Broken leg :(

[MiaCarter]

KarenB --- Oh no! That's terrible!

I've always wrapped the wire with a bit of the self-adhering bandage just to keep it in position. (I'll wrap the wire with the end of the bandage, then place alongside the leg and continue wrapping but around the leg -and- the wire.)

I'd never have thought it could puncture through the leg if it was beside it. You wouldn't think it would have enough movement in there.

At least you discovered it.
If the swelling is lower on the leg, I think there's a good chance it's unrelated. That can occur at any time, especially if she's been using the foot.

I'm not sure an upper leg puncture would cause her to lose only the foot. So there's a good chance this is due to the break.
I'd expect her to lose the entire leg below the point of injury, as the entire portion below the injury would have been deprived of a blood supply, not just the foot.
I'd also expect to see a fair amount of blood if you severed the primary blood supply to the leg. Legs/toes bleed quite a bit. (Surprising, really. Once my neighbor called me over to help with her canary who'd gotten a toe caught up and partially severed by one of those metal cuttle bone holders. I brought the styptic powder and it took about 10 applications to get it to stop.)

Personally, I would be hesitant to use a wire in light of this issue.
But I might wrap just in some self-adhering bandage just to give the leg some extra support. I do that in the transitionary period between the splint and leaving it unbandaged.

Or she may be okay without it. You'll know better than I would since you're there with here. It's been about a week since the injury. It's possible she'll be okay without anything if it was a clean break with good alignment.

[Corkysgirl]

I'm sorry KarenB! I'm praying for her. It's not your fault. You've been working so diligently to help her.

[KarenB]

I don't think it's just the foot, now that I look at it. The lower part of the leg looks rather dark, so she may lose it from the break on down. I'm not going to do anything more except the antibiotics. I'm just going to let God take over from here.

[Ginene]

KarenB...So sorry to hear about Annie's leg. You're doing an amazing job caring for her. Hopefully with the antibiotics and some time Annie will adjust to her new situation. I have a society with 2 clubbed feet...poor little guy...I adapted the flight with broad perches and smooth pumice ledges. He does very well but I still worry about him.

[Colt]

How's KarenB and Mrs. Annie doing/feeling today?

[KarenB]

Annie seems ok, about the same, though it looked to me that she had more pink in her leg in one spot than she had, and the swelling is down. Hard to tell because there is like a crust over the area where the wire poked her. I figure it will eventually fall off. Since I caught her last time to remove the wrap she is totally wigged out any time I enter the room. I try to peek in, but when she hears the door open, she goes into panic mode. Poor baby.

[KarenB]

And the male, Hoot, seems to be calling a lot. I wonder if they miss being around the others. I'm tempted to put them in the same room with the others but not sure the excitement would be beneficial at this stage.

[wildbird]

They would probably be happier in the room with the other birds as long as they have their own cage.

[MiaCarter]

wildbird -- Agreed. I almost always leave my guys in the bird room when they're sick, just so they enjoy the stability of the environment that they know and love. I like to think it reduces stress.

That's great that she's looking good! That's wonderful news!

[KarenB]

Ok, when I get home tonight, I'll put their cage in my studio with the aussie flight from where I took them. I appreciate the feedback guys! Thanks!

[Corkysgirl]

I agree, I think it would actually be calming for her. I'm happy Annie's still doing well!

[KarenB]

So, in the excitement of moving the cage, of course they were flying around the cage as I moved it, and her wound opened and started bleeding. Right now there's a big ball of blood on the leg. I'm watching to see if it will continue to clot on its own. If not, I've got styptic powder and can re wrap it if necessary. I'd rather let her settle down first and see if it will clot. Trying to catch her now will just make it bleed more, I'm afraid. Wish they made little finch bandages.

[Colt]

Goodness she sure is giving you a hard time. Hope everything works out for the best.

[KarenB]

Annie's been breathing a bit hard lately. I'm not sure how much of the antibiotic she is actually getting. The bleeding stayed under control after the move, at least. The antibiotic is in the only water source they have. I haven't seen either of them bathe in it, so I guess that's good. Yesterday I noticed a layer of skin on the leg looked to be sloughng off. Some of that could be from the sticky part of the wrap I used. It's hard to tell. There were also some feathers stuck to her leg there. I am reluctant to handle her at all to keep her stress level down. Right now they are sandwiched between the Australian flight and the society finches. I put up a barrier between the societies, because they are supremely nosey, but I think Hoot appreciates being able to see the parrot finches and Gouldians do their thing.

[MiaCarter]

KarenB -- I'm happy to hear the bleeding resolved itself.

Hopefully she's getting enough antibiotics too!
Is she on a good one that covers respiratory infections?

The sloughing-off skin is normal.
When a limb swells, the outer layers of skin are damaged. So peeling results.

She's hanging in there! Prayers for little Annie!