How can I help my hen with a painful leg injury and heavy breathing?

Hello. If you can keep her indoors, that would be best. You could also start her on an antibiotic made for poultry available at your feed coop. Other than that, make sure she eats & drinks, & if the foot gets worse or does not seem to be healing, please consider having her seen by your veterinarian. This can cause your hen quite a bit of pain & she may need medication to help. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It's possible your hen may have an injury to the leg such as a sprain or break, or even a potential nutrient deficiency causing weakness. If the leg isn't improving on its own, seeking veterinary care to have it looked at by a vet is best. They may be able to figure out the issue or create a brace while the leg heals to make sure it stays in the proper position.

There is really not anything you can give a chicken for pain that is over the counter. Even if there was, you would never be able to get a dosage small enough for a 3 month old chicken. You will have to take her to a vet if you think she is pain and needs medication. They are tough so as long as she is eating and drinking and active I would not be overly worried about pain. Just continue to keep the wounds clean as you have been doing. Hope this helps.

Thanks for reaching out and including a photo. No antibiotic will treat all bacterial infections. Not all respiratory problems are bacterial, let alone infectious. There are several viral diseases possible, and many non-infectious problems. Inhaled toxins or foreign bodies can cause respiratory problems. An enlarged liver, spleen or other internal organs can not allow chickens to take a deep breathe. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Is the abdomen distended? Ascites (fluid accumulation) can be due to liver, kidney, ovarian and other problems. Draining the fluid (through a veterinary visit) can relieve symptoms but is probably not a cure. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Chicky and including photos. A physical examination must be made to determine which of these it is, and each will require a different treatment plan. There are some infectious diseases that can cause this also like bacterial infections or Mycoplasma gallinacium. Provide good diet and husbandry, especially heat support. Good luck.

Going to the vet and having the fluid drained may be a good first step to see if it helps kick the leg back into healing and provides some overall relief for your hen. If it continues to fill back up, or worsens, then amputation may be needed, however it is best if your vet examines it as they know the ongoing case best and can better make that determination. If you do end up needing to amputate the leg, making sure Greyee has easy access to food, water, nest boxes and perches so that she can adjust to the change is best.

Unfortunately it is not permmitted to prescribe medications without an in-person examination. If Della is having a hard time breathing you can try to see if there is an emergency veterinarian in your area that can see her sooner than tomorrow. Keeping her separated from the flock in a small pen that is cool and dark with access to food and water may help her long enough until you can get to the vet.