Anyone interested in a free to a good home "temporary special needs" hen?

[Kristin Parsons]

I have a beautiful and sweet Ameraucana hen- 5 months old- should start laying very soon-but she needs about 3 weeks of special care first that I am unable to provide. :( I saied temporary special needs because from what I have read it will be about 3 weeks of care and she should be able to live a happy long and semi normal chicken life.

here's the story:

Two days ago I came home from work and found her wedged between an alfalfa hay bale and the chicken wire wall of the run. When I got her un-tangled, I noticed her loss of balance, and loss of the use of her left wing. She was very disoriented and dehydrated, so I brought her indoors to assess the damage and nurse her back to health. I gave her a warm bath and a nice beach towel to curl up in, and have been keeping her in the large dog crate to avoid the other girls pecking at her. Over the past two days, I have noticed lots of improvement of her use of her legs but she still rolls over a lot and ends up like a turtle on its back- she's unable to flip back over.

I did lots of reading online and discovered that the appropriate thing to do with the wing is to use gauze to make a sort of "sling" to hold the wing in its natural position against her body so that when she tries to walk she doesn't trip over her own wing. I have done this and it seems to help, but she is still not eating or drinking unless I hold her and still has balance issues- its as if her left shoulder weighs a ton and she can't hold it up. These days I am working 12 hours or more every day, so while I am at work- even though there is plenty of food and drink in the crate, she isn't even going for it because of her lack of balance (or sometimes she will knock everything over and end up on her side with food and water spilled) She is very alert and doesn't act like she is in pain- just seems confused and a little frustrated at her newly acquired handicap.

The next few weeks, she just needs someone who is not working such long days (I might even have to work some all-nighters) and so I don't know what to do other than to ask if someone wants her who can give her the care she needs. I don't want her to suffer or pass away because I'm not able to be home with her and make sure she's eating.

If anyone is interested please let me know. I've attached two photos- the first is from two days ago and you can see the wing hanging below the leg and the second is a group photo from february- she's the one on the right in the group photo.


Thanks
Kristin

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[Juanita Atkin-Cotten]

just wanted to let you know that she is doing fine at my house. We have her in a child's playpen in the house, propped up on towels so that she can eat & drink easily. Seems to be perking up.

[Kristin Parsons]

that's great news! I was just coming to post that she had a new home and you've already given me an update! how kind! thank you so much! I hope that she recovers from her little injury and gives you some beautiful eggs soon! Thanks so much again for taking her in...it really is nice to know she's getting the care she needs. best wishes!

[Juanita Atkin-Cotten]

if you still want someone to take her, I talked to my daughter and she is happy to help. I am not going to be online until Sunday but my phone is 602 570-9155, just call or txt. I can pick her up either Friday or Sat

[Kristin Parsons]

thank you both for responding! as an update she seems like her balance is improving as of last night, so that is good news!

[Susan]

If Juanita's daughter doesn't work out; we homeschool and are here all the time so the time to fix her up is not a problem. We are currently nursing a baby sparrow; why I do not know, call it hands on science, I guess. Susan

[Juanita Atkin-Cotten]

Let me talk to my daughter. She is home during the day with and might be willing to help with the poor chicky.