5.22.2009

Pullet Health Update

I tried so hard not to name her, but a name popped up anyways and stuck: "Minnie Pearl", or "Pearl" for short. It's not a good idea to name animals if it's uncertain they're going to recover from an injury - it makes emotional detachment much more difficult. Before, I thought I could handle taking her life if she couldn't heal. Now I'm not so sure. She's awake, aware, chirrups, eats and drinks. She doesn't appear to be in any pain. Her left foot still seems nerveless, and now her right foot appears to be lacking control as well. Still, she hobbles around and gets to food & drink just fine.

Other than the homeopathic remedies good for healing sprains and ligament/tendon tears & injuries - arnica montana, rhus toxicodendron, ruta graveolens - there's not much more I, or a vet, can do. Time will tell if she heals.

[Pic: Pearl in repose, stretching her leg]

4 comments:

  1. I dunno, sometimes it seems like the ones you name are the ones who end up sticking around. Good luck to Minnie Pearl!

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  2. Good luck to Minnie -- at least she is up and hobbling about. A good sign.

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  3. Ugh, that would be so hard - feeling helpless like that. I'm so glad she doesn't seem to be in pain.

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  4. Hi Debora, We had a hen named Sara (a Naked Neck, not the most attractive look for a hen). She was down, with what I thought was a dislocated knee.I called the vet and asked if he had any ideas. He told me was interested because his Mom raised hens. Turns out she had a broken leg, he did surgery and pinned her leg. She had a pink cast on for 3 weeks. After which she became broody so she sat on eggs for us and hatched out a brood. Unfortunately she was killed protecting her brood from a predator, but her progeny live on.
    Mike

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