ForestChilde
In the Brooder
Hi,
This is my first post after joining when I got some pullets several weeks ago. This site has been great for info! But to the topic at hand. I just acquired a RIR roo this past weekend after my neighbor went to her coop and found a dead hen and an injured roo. She asked me if I wanted to take him for my flock (although I really never planned to get roos) mainly because his coop-mates (about
2 dozen hens and 1 roo) were attacking and picking on him to the point that he could not access the food or water. He was in pretty sad shape when she found him. He will not/cannot use his right leg. Upon examination (he's a pretty gentle roo that I've taken quite a liking too!) his foot is swollen, slightly red between the toes. It's almost like the toes are drawn together too. It does not, at least at this point, look like bumble-foot. I can't seem to find any open wounds at all. There is that one dark spot on the pad that I wonder about, though it's hard to tell if it's open. Our thought is that it's a break or sprain/strain and I can't tell if there is any injury further up from the foot. He does always hold his foot tucked up into his body. I did see him trying to scratch with it yesterday and this morning though.
So he's isolated in a crate with a small moveable coop that I let him come out in during the day. He's eating and drinking fine. I did start him on a supplement (from Rooster Booster) just because of the stress he experienced and have been giving him 1/2 baby aspirin a day (which he takes like the best patient!) I soaked his foot (ok...used a wet warm compress because it was kind of hard to get him to hold his foot down in the container) with epsom salts and warm water yesterday. He seems to have perked up in the several days he's been at my home and even his crow is more robust this morning than it was two days ago. He's been enjoying some dandelion greens along with his food. He has some feather damage on his tail and possibly his wings.
My questions: How long should it take before this heals? If it doesn't and he does not regain the use of his leg (he's hopping on one leg right now) what can I expect? Can I introduce him to my flock or should I keep him separate? I just want to do what's best for him. How do you know if a chicken is in pain or miserable?
Here he is and some images of his foot, his chicken selfie, and him.
This is my first post after joining when I got some pullets several weeks ago. This site has been great for info! But to the topic at hand. I just acquired a RIR roo this past weekend after my neighbor went to her coop and found a dead hen and an injured roo. She asked me if I wanted to take him for my flock (although I really never planned to get roos) mainly because his coop-mates (about
2 dozen hens and 1 roo) were attacking and picking on him to the point that he could not access the food or water. He was in pretty sad shape when she found him. He will not/cannot use his right leg. Upon examination (he's a pretty gentle roo that I've taken quite a liking too!) his foot is swollen, slightly red between the toes. It's almost like the toes are drawn together too. It does not, at least at this point, look like bumble-foot. I can't seem to find any open wounds at all. There is that one dark spot on the pad that I wonder about, though it's hard to tell if it's open. Our thought is that it's a break or sprain/strain and I can't tell if there is any injury further up from the foot. He does always hold his foot tucked up into his body. I did see him trying to scratch with it yesterday and this morning though.
So he's isolated in a crate with a small moveable coop that I let him come out in during the day. He's eating and drinking fine. I did start him on a supplement (from Rooster Booster) just because of the stress he experienced and have been giving him 1/2 baby aspirin a day (which he takes like the best patient!) I soaked his foot (ok...used a wet warm compress because it was kind of hard to get him to hold his foot down in the container) with epsom salts and warm water yesterday. He seems to have perked up in the several days he's been at my home and even his crow is more robust this morning than it was two days ago. He's been enjoying some dandelion greens along with his food. He has some feather damage on his tail and possibly his wings.
My questions: How long should it take before this heals? If it doesn't and he does not regain the use of his leg (he's hopping on one leg right now) what can I expect? Can I introduce him to my flock or should I keep him separate? I just want to do what's best for him. How do you know if a chicken is in pain or miserable?
Here he is and some images of his foot, his chicken selfie, and him.