I'm not sure if my hen has a broken leg or what, the leg just hangs there, when she walks she jumps on one leg, the Claus have no movement at all. She stays inside the chicken coop by herself all day. Should I just leave her alone and let her heal on her own or use a splint? Thank yo

-- Aubrey Crane (Aubbygal@AOL.com), March 25, 2002

Answers

feel the leg,, you should be able to feel the break. if so,, isolate her and splint it

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), March 25, 2002.

Stan! I can't believe you didn't say anything along the lines of, say, chicken and dumplings. Is this a new, kinder, gentler Stan? ; )

-- Judy in IN (Whileaway3@cs.com), March 25, 2002.

Chicken dumplings!!!! that's terrible!!! in another hand, chicken soup its better.

-- Ralph Roces (rroces1@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

Yeah, I think Stan if finally starting to get in touch with his feminen side.

Aubrey, I accidentally broke one of my hens leg at one time. I caged her up by herself for a few weeks until her bones healed. The real problem came when I had to put her back in with the rest of the chickens. They continuesly whooped up on her up all the time for the first few days.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), March 26, 2002.

Stan changed his tune 'cause one of his own feather babies broke a leg!

-- Debbie in MO (risingwind@socket.net), March 26, 2002.

Dad how mean, chicken dumplings!! CHICKEN SOUP DAD!!!!!!!!!! who would eat such a chicken!!! (only you)I think you should put it in a boxs with the roof open put the leg in a splint and keep it away from other chickens. Give it more food with calcium

-- Sebastian Roces (rroces1@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

Either eat or treat, your call.

A good splint is about four inches of hose, split down one side, open up and let close around leg, then tape in place. If you've got it, tape to leg top and bottom with that medical/first-aid paper tape. Aternatively, the REAL silver-grey plastic-backed duct tape (NOT the fabric-backed stuff, which has a tougher adhesive).

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), March 26, 2002.