Help! Cockerel got hung up in a tree by the foot

[RumAndCoconuts]

Hi you emergency help people. Yesterday while my birds were out ranging one 12 week old cockerel got his foot stuck in the low branches of a palm tree. When I came across him he was on the ground with his foot still stuck between the fronds. He'd clearly been struggling as there was a large lesion on the lower leg above his foot. I think he must have been there for a few hours as three of the toes are quite swollen and are a black colour. He's a Bielfelder/Legbar cross so his legs are yellow. only the small toe is a normal colour.
I brought him in and soaked his foot in disinfectant and put some raw aloe vera on it and wrapped it up in a dressing and kept him in over night. He's still in.
His demeanor is good. He's eating well and seems fine but he can't put any weight on his foot.

The part that worries me is the colour of his foot. The dressing is discoloured so I know the wound is weeping and I'm keeping it wrapped up to keep it clean.
I'm wondering if the black colour is just bruising as it is very swollen or if it is something more sinister.

Any advise or ideas?

 

[sourland]

It is possible that blood flow was cut off to the foot long enough that he may lose those toes - I have had this happen to birds with frozen feet. The refusal to put weight on the leg probably has to do with muscle strain. He should recover from that. It sounds as if you are doing all the right things. Good luck.

 

[RumAndCoconuts]

It is possible that blood flow was cut off to the foot long enough that he may lose those toes - I have had this happen to birds with frozen feet. The refusal to put weight on the leg probably has to do with muscle strain. He should recover from that. It sounds as if you are doing all the right things. Good luck.

Thanks for that.... He can't roost without toes or even walk without them. I'd have to cull him wouldn't I? :-(
Do you know how long it will be before I know if he's going to lose them? I'm just wondering, If I need to put him down at what point I can be sure he won't recover proper circulation. Is there a way to test?

 

[sourland]

Well, it sounds as if at least one toe is still healthy. I think that his chances for a high quality life are still quite good even if he happens to lose the two blackened toes. There is a strong possibility that they are simply bruised. I would give him the chance to heal if he were mine.

 

[RumAndCoconuts]

Yes I will do that until/unless he seems to fail. I'm hoping its just bruising. I know they either heal fast or fail fast. Will let you know. Thanks for the input it's much appreciated. he's a bruiser of a bird!

 

[sourland]

How's he doing?

 

[RumAndCoconuts]

How's he doing?

Hey, thanks for asking.
There's really no change. When I give him something to eat he tries to stand up to take it but he quickly realises it's not working and sits down. Again, he looks perky so I'm hoping that indicates there is no infection. But I think with it being caught up for what was clearly a length of time there's some soft tissue damage. I think we will need a couple of days to see which way this is going to go. I do appreciate your concern.

 

[sourland]

You mentioned that he's a 'bruiser of a bird'. That added weight hanging there put a serious strain on the muscles and ligaments in his leg - that will take a while to mend. How does his foot look?

 

[RumAndCoconuts]

You mentioned that he's a 'bruiser of a bird'. That added weight hanging there put a serious strain on the muscles and ligaments in his leg - that will take a while to mend. How does his foot look?

Yes he's a big boy, the Bielefelder in him. I just unwrapped his foot. The wound seems completely healed but I'm really concerned about the toes. One large toe that was black has a bit of colour in it again. The others I have to say not looking good and it stinks to high heaven. I took a very poor photo with my ipad...but you can get the gist
.

 

[sourland]

How is your rooster doing?