Some of our avian friends with fractures don't need surgery. We will show you how we routinely repair a fracture of a pigeon's shin bone when surgery is not needed. This radiograph allows you to see the extent of the fracture to the tibiotarsal bone. Even though it is severe it will heal if splinted properly The first thing we do is pluck the feathers to properly ascertain the extent of the damage. We look for lacerations, protruding bones, and foreign bodies like gunshot wounds.
Most birds show significant discoloration to the muscles around a fracture site.
To the untrained this is commonly mistaken as an infection or gangrene. We use special water proof tape as a splint because it is light and strong. Bird bones are quite thin and if the splint is too heavy it might cause additional harm. In this particular case the fracture is severe enough to warrant additional support. We used pieces of a tongue depressor under the tape, again because of its light weight and strength.