Horsfield

[Paul M]

Hi new to the forum,
One of my three horsfields lost a leg in a bird attack yesterday. Does anyone have any experience of how horsfields manage with three legs ?
Thanks

[Gordon]

That sounds awful what bird was it.

I have a three legged female horsfield who has lost a back leg and she copes just fine even to the point of still being able to dig a perfect nest hole and laying egg and viable ones at that so don't worry to much.

[Ozric Jonathan]

Hi Paul. That sounds terrible. I've got magpies around the garden and I keep my pets under mesh covers unless I am in the garden making sure they are safe.

I know lots of tortoises have lost legs and managed quite well and I know horsfields are tough creatures so there is every chance she will be OK and will adapt.

[Paul M]

Thanks for the reply - that good to know - Magpies. We have mesh covering and a high walled enclosure but magpie got in. We have put stronger mesh and wire now. The wounds are healing well so far, back at vets tomorrow for check up and another jab. Hopefully he will not get an infection and can go back into the external pen in a month or so with the other two. Thanks again

[Paul M]

Thanks for comments very helpful
It was magpies got into enclosures, we have improved mesh strength now.
The leg was completely removed well into the shell, second back leg also damaged and needed stitches and lost skin behind front legs. However doing very well day after, eating etc and at vets again tomorrow for check and antibiotics injection. Will take some care to avoid infection but fingers crossed will be okay

[CherryBrandy]

crikey, welcome Paul M , how traumatic for you and tort. Can I ask what area you are from? Smaller torts are like bait to them, horrid. CB

[CherryBrandy]

5 posts and they will come up live time so don't worry if take a while as they are assessed for spamming

[Paul M]

Thanks CB - the smallest horsfield is my sons, he is away on a school adventure week and is back tomorrow night and he doesn't know yet. At least we can say there is bad news and good news when he gets in. We really didn't know if he would have to be put down due to the damage to other limbs as well but vet was happy, was a reptile specialist and acted quickly - did a great intricate stitching job. We are in Penarth, nr Cardiff and back into an old railway cutting and foxes rats and birds aplenty. We got the horsfields from the Sully tortoise sanctuary which does great work. Two of them have grown loads as they were babies when we had them.

[Paul M]

Originally Posted by CherryBrandy

5 posts and they will come up live time so don't worry if take a while as they are assessed for spamming

Thanks that will explain my double posts because I keep thinking it isn't posting - due to incident yesterday lunchtime I was hoping for some real time feedback but appreciate haven't been a member so all understood. Thanks again

[Ozric Jonathan]

I do worry about the magpies around here and even more after your experience Paul.

I've got mesh covers but now I'm worried they are not good enough. I was thinking about making some new lighter pen covers with a nylon mesh but I'm thinking now that a good steel mesh is what's needed.