Don't know what he did but it hurts him - limping

[jjthink]

Just wanted to tell my fellow chicken lovers - who will understand my concern - about BJ roo's "injury". If I am overlooking something I should be doing for him, I'm all ears.

BJ, a total sweetheart, is limping badly (sympathy pains for Zane?). Noticed he was laying down all day and then saw him try to follow Annie and he couldn't. So I put them both in the run so she wouldn't run him ragged free ranging. She would normally fuss, wanting to get out and explore but she is respectfully staying by his side, quietly (he is soooooooooo good to her).

He looks MISERABLE, head and wings and tail hanging. He will eat fruit and sunflower seed treats, grain bread with olive oil. I brought him a sensible amount of these things once I realized he hasn't had it in him today to walk to his food dishes, and I wanted to cheer him up if at all possible. I also put the food dishes right near him.

So I ditched the usual Avia Charge water and made up aspirin water but she's the only one drinking (he did eat cut up cherries that I had dunked in the water but that barely gave him any aspirin water). Checked the bottom of his feet - didn't see anything except a sticky plant part that was stuck in the center of his foot - took it off and applied a bit of neosporin because it was a bit pink though I don't think it was really necessary, and I don't think it caused this problem. When I touch his leg higher up he flinched like it really hurt. So I let him be for the moment so as not to stress him too much. My guess is he somehow pulled something so the remedy will likely be R&R. This will be tough with Annie so eager to explore the world. They only have each other.

I don't want him jumping up to perch (don't think he could anyway) so fixed it so there are very small graduated padded steps to the shelf where he sleeps. Not sure he can even negotiate them - will have to watch closely at bedtime - they'll stress out if I take them in the house but we'll see how it goes. I don't like the idea of him jumping down off his sleeping shelf (they prefer that to a perch also offered) in the morning either. If only he'd just stay on the floor of the coop - it's nice and cushy and clean with pine shavings - but you know how they are. We'll see...I may have to stay in there with him till dark and try to keep him on the cushy floor bedding.

I have SIX Cooper's hawks in the yard (2 parents and 4 recent fledglings) - that was complicated enough with able bodied chickens but with BJ so compromised I will have to keep them cooped up - for who knows how long - poor babies. I had been standing close by during any free range time.

I hate to see my boy hurting and sad. He's so gentle and so caring for Annie, and before her, his Betty.

I think I may have to go carry him from the run to the coop because it seems even the short walk would hurt too much. I suppose i could dropper some aspirin water into him but it's a toss up between stressing out him doing that and letting him just drink when he gets thirsty........I have lots of bowls out of the aspirin water so that there's one pretty near him no matter where he is...

Thanks for listening. I am grateful.

I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings

JJ

Edited to say YIKES - SORRY SO LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SpottedCrow]

Dang, Judy! Our poor BJ!

 

[jjthink]

Thank you

He insisted on working his way up to their shelf with my graduated system (it's pretty low as perches go but when you're hurting it's a different story) so we'll see what morning brings. He refused the aspirin water again. I added a bunch more pine shavings to the floor so he has a soft landing in the a.m. (it's probably just a couple of feet from the shelf to the top of the pine shavings on the floor - still...it may hurt).

His injury may have saved their lives tonight. Because of it, I put them in the run and shortly thereafter the neighbors once again irresponsibly let their dogs loose and the two of them came barreling into the yard. Sigh. Now I have to contact them again.

SC, I think of you and Penny and hope you're faring okay.

JJ

 

[sammi]

I would try and get some aspirin water in him by drops on beak using a dropper..
it might help with discomfort, and help perk his appetite....
is there any swelling?
do check his hip and back for heat or swelling..
check between toes if you haven't..

and do give him some extra protein..such as cooked egg, or a small amount of canned cat food, and some vitamins.

maybe lower the roost if you can.

hope he gets better soon.

 

[jjthink]

Thank you sammi - I really appreciate your good wishes for BJ.

I droppered a bit of aspirin water along his beak this morning - he got maybe only a few drops before stressing - I think he was uncomfortable being held because of his leg. Then I made them a scrambled egg and put a couple eyedroppers worth of aspirin water on his egg - he ate a few bites. Gave him a bit of fruit dipped in the aspirin water - just a miniscule amount gets into him that way. I don't know how much aspirin water it would take before they get a "chicken's dose" - not sure how much they're assumed to drink in a day......He gobbled down some sunflower seeds, one of his favorites - protein.

He is still in a lot of pain when he tries to walk on his right leg. He is lying down in the run right now. Thankfully Annie is behaving at the moment, not bellyaching to get out. She knows he's hurting and is on her best behavior. This will not likely last once she gets really eager to explore! Or as soon as she sees me outside. He will worry if she's out on her own so it's going to get interesting.

I don't see swelling or feel anything hot but I have to check him more closely (a bit at a time because he gets stressed - he is the most gentle being you could ever imagine but he is also a worrier). I don't think there's anything between his toes but will check them again. I think the problem is higher up. Hip? His flight feathers are drooping when he stands - maybe trying to balance, I don't know.

BJ and Annie usually have Avia Charge 2000 in their water daily (except once a month when I give them ACV in their water for a couple of days). Right now the water only has the aspirin in it because I wasn't sure if I should mix in with the Avia.

I went out by 6 a.m. trying to catch them before they got off their sleeping shelf but they were already down (I should have gone out at 5 when I woke up)- getting down probably hurt even though the drop is less than 20 inches to the cushy pine shavings, a lower roost than most.

I'm hoping I will see improvement after BJ rests a couple of days and that it's just an injury that will run its course.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Judy so sorry to hear of his injury. You must figure out a way so that he does not overtax himself getting up higher... dissasemble if necessary and place a (carboard perhaps with low sides?) box with shavings in it for him to sleep in in the coop.
You can mix in cooked human oatmeal through his feed (this will not only help with digestion but he will get "more" feed in each bit > you need to mix in just enuf to make it all clump together) and if you can get some , buy some baby handfeeding formula and mix that in there too to concentrate the nutrition. It may take a few weeks to heal and considering his age and such it is a good idea that you tax him as little as possible so bring him to and from the coop is a good idea.

 

[jjthink]

Quote:

 

[dlhunicorn]

ok...if you cannot dissasemble that perch then ...raise the floor! LOL ...I mean perhaps overturn some boxes so he will have a couple platforms to hop up on to reach the perch.

 

[jjthink]

Righto - very important. Today I worked as best I could within the small space (they have a small 4' x 6' x 8' [high] coop inside a larger outbuilding) to create short "platforms" leading up to the 18 " high roosting shelf tho for now I'm lifting him up there and will take him down in the a.m. just to be extra careful (note to self - get up by 5 a.m!.). He is so at ease when he is in his familiar place.....

Hot here - Annie was open mouth breathing - fans are on them......will have to redirect in a little while in case the direct hit gets annoying to them - She'll get a bit of electrolyte water in the a.m. and he'll get more aspirin water which he won't drink (he hardly ever drinks) and then I'll be dipping fruit and stuff in it to try to get some in him.

Supposed to be more humid and hot tomorrow probably 95-98 heat index - at least not triple digit - wahoo! Trust it's cooler there in the Netherlands. BTW, I really love it there. NJ and the Netherlands were similar to "sister cities" some years back. The Netherlands government invited NJ government to visit a few times so we could share info about sustainability and environmental management. NJ was chosen because it has similar population density and similar challenges. I was there representing NJ's Governor's Office. We were in the Hague a lot but also various other places. One of the ideas I brought home was about bike paths. At the time, Holland had maybe 10,000 miles of bike paths throughout a land mass twice the size of NJ. NJ had virtually none. We adopted a plan to create 2,000 miles of bike paths in 10 years (very ambitious given the retrofitting that would be needed).

Thank you

JJ

 

[Jillylam]

Judy,
I'm so sorry to hear BJ is hurting. And this weather doesn't help him any. Mine were all having trouble with the heat today. Usually it's one or two but today it was all of them. I really hope BJ starts to feel better soon. Please keep us updated.

Also, a quick question for Diana or anyone who knows: What is the difference between using instant baby cereal oatmeal and cooked oatmeal? I think I've heard it explained before but I don't remember what the reason is. Thanks.

Jill