Help! Injured rooster. I don't know what to do anymore.

[Chippersmama]

My rooster churches is so beautiful and docile towards the hens and the us and I don't want to put him down but his left leg is suddenly hurt. He won't try to stand on it at all and uses his wings to balance. He still eats and drinks. I tried flipping him on his back and slowly moving the leg around to pop it back in place thinking it's dislocated but it didn't work. We can't afford to take him to the vet. Please help!!

 

[Abriana]

Check for breaks or other injuriesof some sort. Perhaps a week or so in a confined area (cage, crate, or box) to allow his leg to rest would be good. My rooster did this tho not at bad and a couple days in the crate really helped. There are also special chicken slings you can make (google chicken slings) which would be best to help take total weight off his leg. Good luck!

 

[Plip]

I think the question is, is he suffering? I don't mean, does it hurt when he tries to walk or when you mess with him, but is he in constant pain? If the answer is yes, then the right thing to do is to put him out of his misery. That's hard to do, but it's more kind than letting him suffer.

But if he can get comfortable, and he's able to eat and drink (with your help, if you're willing), then I'd wait and see. It could be a lot of different things, and many of them will heal -- maybe not as good as new, but good enough. And then you have a funny rooster that limps around the run trying to catch up with the hens.

 

[sylviethecochin]

X2 to both of the above, especially the sling.
Also, his feet look weird. Could you post a clearer picture?

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under Chippersmama Welcome!

You might want to also try posting on the Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures forum.

Best wishes to you and your little man!

 

[Pork Pie]

Welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. Hopefully, the ER peeps will be able to help you.

 

[drumstick diva]

His feet really look bad, like serious mite damage. Also have you checked the bottom of his feet for bumblefoot?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

His feet really look bad, like serious mite damage. Also have you checked the bottom of his feet for bumblefoot?

X2
That is what I am thinking - mites.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

My rooster churches is so beautiful and docile towards the hens and the us and I don't want to put him down but his left leg is suddenly hurt. He won't try to stand on it at all and uses his wings to balance. He still eats and drinks. I tried flipping him on his back and slowly moving the leg around to pop it back in place thinking it's dislocated but it didn't work. We can't afford to take him to the vet. Please help!!

Greetings Chippersmama,

Your rooster has a very severe scaley leg mite infestation. That alone can cause death, as the chicken suffers, it will stop eating then drinking. Soon frailty will set in, and it will succumb to a completely treatable condition.

He may have an injured leg...and maybe not. If you didn't feel anything out of the ordinary when you had him on his back, the leg may not be broken or dislocated. A dislocated leg will flop around. He seems to have his legs firmly tucked under him and facing forward, in the pictures.

You will notice a broken leg too, it is similar but occurs between the joints.
If you cannot establish whether he has a broken or dislocated leg, do the next best thing.

Because severe scaley leg infestation can also lame a chicken, it may be why he cannot stand on that leg.

If he were mine, the first thing I would do is:

• Fill a dish tub with warm water, add 1-2 cups of plain Epsom Salt, stir to dissolve.
• Soak the rooster's feet and legs in the Epsom Salt bath for 15 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush or some other small brush.
• Remove him from the tub, and dry the feet and legs with a clean towel.
• Mix 4 parts Petrolatum Jelly or A&D ointment (for babies), with 1 part NU-STOCK, ointment (Purchased at feed/farm stores).
• Slather the legs and feet with this ointment.
• Do this three times a week, for the first two weeks, then once a week till it clears up. This could take a month or more to heal.

You may have to treat all of your chickens, as scaley leg mites infestation is contagious.

NU-STOCK ointment is high in sulfur, which will kill the mites feasting on his flesh under the scales, as they tunnel around! Yikes! Poor boy. The Epsom Salt also has a sulfur content, and is a healing and comforting effect on the chicken.


These are my thoughts on your roosters condition. I hope they will be helpful.

Other members will offer good advice, please consider theirs too.

God Bless and peace to you.

 

[ChickNanny13]

You've been given good advice, hope your Roo recovers