Clueless About Poultry Leg Woes? Get How to Fix Broken Chicken Leg!

A broken chicken leg is a common issue in poultry farming, often resulting from accidents or underlying health conditions. This condition can cause distress to both the chicken and its caretaker.

Chickens can break their legs from falling, accidents, or overcrowding. Weak bones from poor nutrition or osteoporosis can also make them more prone to breaks. Signs of a broken leg include limping, swelling, or difficulty standing. Treatment involves supporting the leg with bandages, pain relief, rest, and proper nutrition. Severe cases may need surgery or special care from a vet.

This guide will help you to heal your chickens with proper care. To learn the care guide in detail, go a little further!

What Causes Chicken Broken Leg?

A chicken’s natural instincts and curiosity can sometimes lead to broken legs. Their love for roosting in high places can result in a tumble that fractures a leg. Besides here are the reasons to blame –

1. Falls from High Places: Chickens love to perch, but a tumble from a roost, fence, or other high spot can cause a leg fracture. It’s especially true in older hens with weaker bones.
2. Rough Handling: While unintentional, accidentally stepping on a chicken or grabbing them too firmly can lead to a break.
3. Collisions with Other Animals: A run-in with a larger animal, like a dog or another aggressive chicken, can cause a leg injury.
4. Weak Bones: Nutritional deficiencies, particularly a lack of calcium, can make bones brittle and fractures.
5. Coop Hazards: Sharp objects, uneven flooring, or poorly constructed ramps within the coop can all be tripping hazards for chickens.

What Does A Broken Chicken Leg Look Like? Signs to Check!

A broken leg in your chicken can be a scary sight, but there are some telltale signs to watch out for. Here’s what you should check:

• Limping: If your chicken is using one leg less or hopping, it might have a broken leg.
• Abnormal Leg Angle: Check if the leg is held at an abnormal angle. Fractures can cause the leg to visibly bend unnaturally.
• Swelling and Bruises: Look for swelling, redness, or bruising around the hurt area.
• Changes in Behavior: If your chicken is less active, not eating much, or seems tired, it could be due to a broken leg.

How to Treat A Chicken with a Broken Leg?

Discovering a broken leg in your chicken is a cause for concern, but don’t panic! With immediate action and proper care, your feathered friend can heal and get back to the coop. Here’s a breakdown of what to do:

Immediate Action

The first step is to isolate the injured chicken in a quiet, warm, and safe space. A cardboard box lined with soft towels works well. This minimizes stress and prevents further injury from other chickens.

Make sure the chicken has easy access to fresh food and water. Keep the waterer and feeder close by so they don’t have to move around too much.

A visit to the vet is the best course of action. Vets can accurately diagnose the break, set the bone if necessary, and prescribe pain medication to keep your chicken comfortable. They can also advise on proper splinting techniques if needed.

You can see the video to get more help.

Treatment Solutions

If you visit the vet, they will likely splint the leg to help it heal properly. This splint needs to be monitored and adjusted as needed throughout the healing process.

If a vet visit isn’t possible, some resources suggest attempting a homemade DIY splint. It’s obviously by using vet-approved materials like Popsicle sticks and gauze.

Now, how to splint a chicken with a fractured leg?

Depending on the location of the break, adjust your wrapping technique:

• Toes: Bandage, splint, or, in severe cases, amputate the affected toe.
• Metatarsus: Splint along the long bone of the foot, isolating the break.
• Heel: This is where our chicken had a broken leg. Splint the metatarsus bone and provide special care for a couple of weeks.
• Tibiotarsus: This is the drumstick bone. Check for any looseness or obvious issues.
• Knee: Inspect the top of the tibiotarsus near the body.
• Femur and Hip: Check for breaks or dislocations.

Steps for Splinting Broken Leg

• Place the chicken on its side.

• Position the broken leg straight.
• Use half of a Popsicle Stick on each side of the leg, securing it with vet wrap.

• Optionally, use a third supportive splint if needed.
• Cover the splint with a wool blend sock to protect it.

Remember, improper splinting can worsen the injury. So, be sure you have enough knowledge.

Watch out the following video for a better understanding!

Additional Tips to Try for Chicken Fractured Leg

• Icing a chicken leg injury may help reduce swelling and speed healing.
• Use a small ice pack or crushed ice wrapped in a towel.
• Start with 5 minutes on, 20 minutes off, and monitor the chicken closely.
• Increase icing time gradually if the chicken tolerates it well.
• Never apply ice directly to the skin, use a thin towel to avoid frostbite.

How to Prevent Broken Legs in Chickens?

With a few preventative measures, you can create a safe coop environment risk-free from leg injuries. Here’s what you can try –

• Safe Coop Setup: Make sure your coop doesn’t have anything pointy sticking out, bumpy floors, or wobbly ramps that could trip up your chickens.
• Comfy Perches: Give your chickens perches at different heights that are easy for them to climb on, no matter their age. Don’t use perches that are too thin or slippery.
• No Escape Holes: Check your coop for any holes in the walls or fences where chickens could get stuck and hurt themselves trying to get out.
• Strong Bones, Happy Hens: Feed your chickens a healthy mix of food that includes plenty of calcium. Calcium helps keep their bones strong and less likely to break.
• Pick Up with Care: When you need to hold your chickens, be gentle and don’t grab them by their legs, which could injure them.
• Safe Space to Play: If your chickens get to wander around outside the coop, make sure they have a fenced-in area. The area should be where they are safe from bigger animals like dogs or wild animals that might attack them.

How Long Does A Broken Chicken Leg Take to Heal?

A broken chicken leg typically takes several weeks to heal. So, the exact duration can vary based on the severity of the fracture.

If the break is minor and the bone fragments are still aligned, the chicken’s leg may heal on its own within 4 to 6 weeks.

For more significant fractures, such as those involving multiple bone fragments or displacement, healing may take 6 to 8 weeks or longer.

Severe breaks, open fractures, or fractures near joints may require surgical intervention. In these cases, the healing time can extend beyond 8 weeks.

So, will a chicken’s broken legs heal on its own? Yes, it will heal but in minor cases.

Related Articles:

• 7 Causes For My Chick’s Death After Hatching!
• Treatment For Pasty Butt In Chickens
• 6 Ways to Revive a Weak Chick

FAQs

Have a look at the following questions to increase your knowledge about treating broken legs of chickens.

Conclusion

A broken leg in chickens can be treated with proper care and attention. Veterinary assistance may be needed for splinting or surgery. With patience and the right treatment, chickens can recover and return to their normal activities.

Also, preventive measures, such as maintaining a coop environment and a balanced diet, can help reduce the risk of leg injuries. Remember, it takes time for a broken leg to heal. But with proper care, most chickens can make a full recovery.