Barred Rock With Swollen Leg-Wont Put Wait On It

[purplepoen]

My barred rock rooster's leg started to swell about a week ago. We're not sure of the cause. We just thought it would go away, but it's gradually worsened and he can't hardley walk around. He is about 11 months old and he is still perky and alert aswell as eating and drinking. However his comb had drooped over to one side. His whole leg and foot is swollen huge and there is an extra large bump, about the size of a marble, on his lower leg. Any ideas on what could have caused this or a treatment? If it's something we just have to wait out is there anything we can do to make him more comfortable? Does he need to be taken out of the flock? There have been a few occasions where he and our other rooster have sparred a little, but never very seriously, if that could have something to do with it.

Thanks,
Kaycie

 

[farmgirlie1031]

It might be Bumble foot but I'm pretty new to chickens so I will let a chicken expert tell you for sure.

 

[purplepoen]

The bump hasn't bled or anything. He hasn't been perching at night because it hurts him to land and stuff, should I be worried about him sitting in poop on the coop floor at night? We put a board down for him to sit on but he prefers not to.

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Yes, likely bumblefoot.

Quite an interesting screen name you have there..are you aware of what it means in the urban slang dictionary??!!

 

[purplepoen]

no, my screenname is just kind of a nickname for my pony

 

[purplepoen]

He doesn't have the bumble foot symptom of a dark scab. Plus his whole leg is swollen, not just his foot. There is no visible injury like a scrape or puncture wound. I'm really worried about him though, I want Ranger to be better! Is there anything I could give him for the pain. Like, I dont know, baby asprin or something? I dont know much about chicken medical care other than dealing with spraddle leg, so any advice about this is greatly appreciated.

 

[purplepoen]

Here he is...

 

[Emzyyy]

My hen BeBe inflicted the same thing on herself by getting herself caught in a fence. I think she broke something but Im not for sure. Its on her upper leg like the hip if she did. And she uses it like a cruch but that makes it bleed. It got better and healed but I don't know if I should keep her around if she can only use one leg. Should I? Its almost inhumane, but I don't want to my bantems seem to think she is their mother.

 

[Yanna]

I'm not a vet but I've been using natural medicine for 25 years, so ignore or proceed at your own discretion.

I know it's no help right this moment but there's a great book called The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable that has a lot of good information in it to keep your critters healthy and nurse them back to health if they're sick.

Swelling in most critters with backbones (including people) is usually caused by 1. inflammation (possibly related to injury or infection, sometimes an allergic response) or 2. circulatory problems (usually vein or lymph backlog).

This might sound nutty but it worked fine for people who didn't have modern medicine handy back in the day:

1. A castor oil poultice - soak a strip of thin cotton in castor oil (the plant-based oil from the health food store, not the kind you put in your Ford Thunderbird) and wrap it - not too tightly, just enough to stay in steady contact with his leg and give him a little support - overnight. Check in the morning - if it's stayed the same or gotten a bit better, then reapply a fresh one then. This might relieve some of the swelling and pain. If you don't have access to that, grated raw potato might help him (wrapped against his leg with the cotton strip). Cabbage leaves are ideal for this in people but as I understand it, cabbage is a no-no for chickens for some reason or other.

2. If you suspect infection, there are ways to address that also - but I'm going to assume you have someone to consult about that.

3. Can you put him in a temporary setting where he can rest for a couple of days and doesn't have to fend off his companions? Rest and fresh wholesome foods for a few days may help him turn the bend.

Best wishes to you and your feathered fella there.

 

[purplepoen]

Thanks, I'll try that. And yes, he's in his own personal extra large cardboard box. He's been getting lot's of chicken treats. Being on his own hasn't reduced his swelling level very much, but he's hobbling around again to get to his water so I assume staying off of it is making it feel a bit better. I still have no clue what he did.