One Chick Two
Songster
- Jun 13, 2013
- 1,067
- 246
- 206
Hi- Since Monday, our sweet 16 WO RIR cockerel, Red has been limping badly on his right leg.
The limping seems worse today. We think he might have fallen out of the high roost, etc, or even been stepped on underfoot when DH was giving treats on Monday. We are concerned as we can't find an obvious break or wound, hot area or swelling so can't figure out what is distressing him. I took these photos early this chilly morning while my husband looked him over. We don't believe he has Bumblefoot or Marek's. His footpads seem normal.
Both claws can wind around a finger, and he can stand on both feet for about 5 minutes or so, the foot he's favoring on top of the good one. Sometimes that leg seems to tremble painfully before he sinks to the ground to rest. He will sometimes make scratching motions in the air with the bad leg/foot but will mostly elevate it, or rest it on a food dish. He's resting a lot, thankfully, and the others don't appear to bother him too much. We haven't separated him as he seems to have enough places to be alone, and can't risk him losing his good status in a flock of 82 others- the ones at the bottom of the pecking order seem to get chased a lot.
Although he seems to me a bit depressed (not his normal outgoing, friendly self) he's eating and drinking well, taking in snacks, pooping normally, and mostly hiding away from his rambunctious other flockmates in shaded, somewhat private areas around the large day pen. There's a pullet that seems to want to stay with him and keep him company and block out others if I'm not there. Usually when I'm around he will try to limp over to be held and fall asleep in my arms. He's getting big now, so I let his legs dangle and sometimes he will give a slight moan of protest and I can feel his bad leg tremble or jerk as he's re-adjusted.
We're hoping someone can please direct us for what to look for, or how long such injuries can typically take to heal. This cockerel is our favorite out of all our chickens. He's extraordinarily friendly, and enjoys human interactions and just being held. When I go for a walk, he comes running, scratching my leg with his beak until he's picked up, and take him walking (He seems to enjoy it, and is cranky if I get tired and let him down before finishing.) The closeup of Red was taken during one of our walks- you can see how alert and excited he was. Appreciative for any thought or ideas…Thanks for reading.
The limping seems worse today. We think he might have fallen out of the high roost, etc, or even been stepped on underfoot when DH was giving treats on Monday. We are concerned as we can't find an obvious break or wound, hot area or swelling so can't figure out what is distressing him. I took these photos early this chilly morning while my husband looked him over. We don't believe he has Bumblefoot or Marek's. His footpads seem normal.
Both claws can wind around a finger, and he can stand on both feet for about 5 minutes or so, the foot he's favoring on top of the good one. Sometimes that leg seems to tremble painfully before he sinks to the ground to rest. He will sometimes make scratching motions in the air with the bad leg/foot but will mostly elevate it, or rest it on a food dish. He's resting a lot, thankfully, and the others don't appear to bother him too much. We haven't separated him as he seems to have enough places to be alone, and can't risk him losing his good status in a flock of 82 others- the ones at the bottom of the pecking order seem to get chased a lot.
Although he seems to me a bit depressed (not his normal outgoing, friendly self) he's eating and drinking well, taking in snacks, pooping normally, and mostly hiding away from his rambunctious other flockmates in shaded, somewhat private areas around the large day pen. There's a pullet that seems to want to stay with him and keep him company and block out others if I'm not there. Usually when I'm around he will try to limp over to be held and fall asleep in my arms. He's getting big now, so I let his legs dangle and sometimes he will give a slight moan of protest and I can feel his bad leg tremble or jerk as he's re-adjusted.
We're hoping someone can please direct us for what to look for, or how long such injuries can typically take to heal. This cockerel is our favorite out of all our chickens. He's extraordinarily friendly, and enjoys human interactions and just being held. When I go for a walk, he comes running, scratching my leg with his beak until he's picked up, and take him walking (He seems to enjoy it, and is cranky if I get tired and let him down before finishing.) The closeup of Red was taken during one of our walks- you can see how alert and excited he was. Appreciative for any thought or ideas…Thanks for reading.