Happy Feet - Chicken Style

One of my hens broke her big toe on her left foot 3 weeks ago.  The prognosis wasn't good at first, as the hen couldn't walk at all and screamed in pain when the foot was touched.  She had no desire to eat or even move.  Since then, the toe was taped straight and she was moved into a small cage in my living room.  Soon she starting moving around more and the small cage was too small for her, so she was allowed to sit on my living room floor on an old towel.  She loved watching TV during this time; I think she was lonely and missed her flock.  At first she just sat, didn't walk to walk or move much.  After a day or two she started walking and pooping all over the living room.  It was then that she was moved into the bathroom, where cleanup was much easier!  During this time the hen was named Danni, as a way of saying thanks to all the advice and guidance from Danni at Critter Farm.  (Thanks again, Danni!!!  I couldn't have made it without your guidance!)

A week and a half ago I took off Danni's cast, but she still couldn't walk on the foot.  It must not have been healed.  The toe bent at a right angle still and she continually fell down when trying to walk.  We cannot keep a lame chicken, so at this time Danni's future was not very bright.  Danni appeared to be depressed from being alone without her fellow chickens (chickens need other chickens), so one of Danni's twins (there were 3 identical hens) was moved in with her, which greatly raised her spirits. I named the twin Chloe.  The broken toe was taped again for another week and a half. 

Danni is in front, Chloe behind

And finally, the good news!!  Today we removed the make-shift cast again.  The toe is still slightly bent.  It healed bent off to the right.  But she can walk!!  That is all that I was hoping for.  She's not too sure of her foot with the cast off, so she'll most likely spend the weekend inside learning how to walk on the foot without a cast.  (I've dealt with chickens in my house now for 3 weeks, another couple days will not bother me more than I've already been bothered.  I've cleaned my bathroom every night, it's become part of my daily routine.)

 

The broken toe is the big center toe on the foot on the right in this pic.  You can see the toe isn't straight like the one on the other foot.  It's bigger than the other big toe, as it didn't heal straight.  She's not putting her weight on it much, you can she she's relying on her other foot to stand.  But she's not falling over anymore, so I think she'll make it after all.