please help!

[edie]

my mom found a chicken with a broken leg. She is not finding an avian vet and she wants me to try to help it. I don't know how long she has been injured, we found her about 2 hours ago, I'm in class now so I couldn't do anything for the bird before I left. I have been reading that you can splint yourself, but it has to be done fast. I also read that they can heal on their own sometimes. What should I do? I know her chances are not good but I want to do what I can. Let me know if anyone has dealt with this first hand and what you did, thanks

[JLC]

Try these links. Herp vets are usually "exotic" vets and will have experience with birds as well.

http://www.anapsid.org/vets/arizona.html

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/arizona.shtml

Good luck!

[Laooda]

Best of luck. Keep us posted!

[edie]

Try these links. Herp vets are usually "exotic" vets and will have experience with birds as well.

http://www.anapsid.org/vets/arizona.html

http://www.herpvetconnection.com/arizona.shtml

Good luck!

thanks, the only thing is my mom will not pay for a vet visit and we do not know who the owners are or if it even has one. I would pay but I don't have a job and I spent everything I had saved up on vet bills for my cats last month so I'm broke now

[JLC]

Ahhh...well, still it never hurts to call and see if they can help...maybe give some advice over the phone about how to treat it or something.

[edie]

Ahhh...well, still it never hurts to call and see if they can help...maybe give some advice over the phone about how to treat it or something.

I know my exotics vet would not do much, on their website it says they will do over phone consultations if you pay them, but again, I don't have any money right now.

I have been reading online a lot about this, with people who keep pet chickens.. some of them say to splint yourself if you can't get a vet, but others say just keep the animal confined and let it heal.. so I'm a little confused about which way to go. I know that the leg has been broken now for at least 3 hours, and it could be even longer than that, I'm not sure if it would be safe to splint or not. In any case my mom is picking up some vet wrap and she should be home within the next hour.

[edie]

I found a chicken forum and posted my question there, I'm not sure how active the forum is but hopefully they can give me some information. I'll post any updates here

[Patrick Long]

A poultry breeder friend of mine takes popsicle sticks and bandages them to the leg, after setting it.

Dont know if that will help or not.

[edie]

A poultry breeder friend of mine takes popsicle sticks and bandages them to the leg, after setting it.

Dont know if that will help or not.

Yeah I had read about that. I'm still waiting for my mom to get home with the vet wrap before I decide what to do - I had also read online that Metacam can be used with birds for pain management, I have some left over from a glider neuter so I think I'm going to try to give the chicken some to help her feel more comfortable at least.

The chicken forum I posted on has been less than helpful, there are over 100 users online there and my topic has been pushed down over 20 times in the emergency/health section, I keep posting replies on it just asking about what I should look for when I go check her leg and not one person has said anything.

[edie]

Here are some pictures, she is laying with the injured leg extended out. My mom will be home soon and I'm going to check the leg then.