- Jul 24, 2013
- 23,660
- 1,605
- 426
In early October, one of my birds, an 8 month old Dutch Bantam cockerel, turned up with a bad leg. Instead of walking flat, the toes on one foot were curled so that he walked on top of the toes. It didn't seem to hurt him; at first, the toes seemed kind of paralyzed. Suspecting Marek's Disease (he was not vaccinated), I treated him with St. Johns Wort for about a week. He regained feeling in the foot/could move the toes and clench properly, and still acted happy and otherwise normal, but did not walk properly on the foot. I kept him isolated from the other birds (besides a few occasional visits with the hens) in a pen without a roost for several weeks. His behavior ranged from him seeming in pain, to acting fine, from day to day. After about three weeks, one morning, he suddenly was walking correctly! A bit unsteady, but with his foot flat and strides confident. By now, I suspected that he had injured the leg by banging into something (he had always been an avid flyer that jumped vigorously around on roosts a lot), and it had finally healed. Unfortunately, he was thrilled about this newfound mobility, and exerted himself by jumping down from a ledge and mating a hen. Within two days, he was walking worse than ever--limping badly, walking on his hock/side of leg, and looking rather miserable. That was about two weeks ago. As of today, he isn't much better. When walking, he puts his foot down correctly, but the leg appears weak, and it collapses once he puts weight on it. This is not to say that he doesn't still enjoy himself--he roosts one-legged at night, and tries to mate hens when given the chance. I really don't want to cull him, but if he doesn't get better soon, I probably will.
But that cockerel is not the extent of my problem. Just today, another Dutch Bantam cockerel, about 11 months old, is walking strangely. He's always been a bit on the small size, with shorter-than-usual legs and a somewhat clumsy nature. Today, though, he's walking worse than usual. His legs seem stiff, especially near the hock. When he walks, he steps on his right foot, and has some trouble keeping himself from falling backwards. He prefers to lay down instead of standing, but can roost. His legs are not splayed out, and show no signs of injury. But there is something wrong with them, and, as he is the underdog of the rooster flock, it is certainly possible that he was injured somehow. The little cockerel is trying to get around, but is having to be content with crouching and gobbling down feed and water. He is vaccinated for Marek's Disease. None of the other birds currently in his rooster group are showing similar symptoms, yet. No hens, which live right next to the roosters, have ever showed any leg problems (knock on wood).
Similarities between the two affected cockerels: Both...
Have been eating medicated 24% protein Game Bird Grower feed for basically their entire life
Are cockerels around 10 months of age
Are/were underdogs in the flock
Have been drinking water with a very low concentration of Oxine in it (to prevent algae growth)
3-6 days before showing symptoms had Frontline applied to them due to mites
Were living in the same compartment with about 5 other males
Act fine besides their leg problems
Have good appetites and drink plenty
Are bedded with pine shavings
Have no other symptoms of disease, besides the leg problems.
Differences:
The first cockerel was not vaccinated for Marek's Disease, but the second cockerel was.
The first cockerel had recently been to a show before showing symptoms
The second cockerel is smaller/slightly weaker than the first one
The first one is about one month younger than the second one.
The first cockerel has only one bad leg; both legs seem to be becoming affected in the second cockerel (though one more so than the other)
The possible problems that I can think of include a vitamin deficiency due to a) the medicated feed or b) the Oxine, injury to the leg, and a neurological problem because of the Frontline. I plan tomorrow to give them both layer feed, get rid of the Oxine water, and put vitamins in their water.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
But that cockerel is not the extent of my problem. Just today, another Dutch Bantam cockerel, about 11 months old, is walking strangely. He's always been a bit on the small size, with shorter-than-usual legs and a somewhat clumsy nature. Today, though, he's walking worse than usual. His legs seem stiff, especially near the hock. When he walks, he steps on his right foot, and has some trouble keeping himself from falling backwards. He prefers to lay down instead of standing, but can roost. His legs are not splayed out, and show no signs of injury. But there is something wrong with them, and, as he is the underdog of the rooster flock, it is certainly possible that he was injured somehow. The little cockerel is trying to get around, but is having to be content with crouching and gobbling down feed and water. He is vaccinated for Marek's Disease. None of the other birds currently in his rooster group are showing similar symptoms, yet. No hens, which live right next to the roosters, have ever showed any leg problems (knock on wood).
Similarities between the two affected cockerels: Both...
Have been eating medicated 24% protein Game Bird Grower feed for basically their entire life
Are cockerels around 10 months of age
Are/were underdogs in the flock
Have been drinking water with a very low concentration of Oxine in it (to prevent algae growth)
3-6 days before showing symptoms had Frontline applied to them due to mites
Were living in the same compartment with about 5 other males
Act fine besides their leg problems
Have good appetites and drink plenty
Are bedded with pine shavings
Have no other symptoms of disease, besides the leg problems.
Differences:
The first cockerel was not vaccinated for Marek's Disease, but the second cockerel was.
The first cockerel had recently been to a show before showing symptoms
The second cockerel is smaller/slightly weaker than the first one
The first one is about one month younger than the second one.
The first cockerel has only one bad leg; both legs seem to be becoming affected in the second cockerel (though one more so than the other)
The possible problems that I can think of include a vitamin deficiency due to a) the medicated feed or b) the Oxine, injury to the leg, and a neurological problem because of the Frontline. I plan tomorrow to give them both layer feed, get rid of the Oxine water, and put vitamins in their water.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
