- Mar 11, 2014
- 161
- 8
- 121
Hello byc members, it's been a while, which means I've had very little problems with my flock. However about 4ish weeks ago I noticed my rooster picking at his foot and then limping off. He was fine earlier the same day and I though maybe he got stung by an ant or even a scorpion (we live in Az). He continued limping worse after that, I checked him over and nothing was really wrong. He had a few bumble scabs, but due to foot deformities, he always has. They've never caused him issue though, no swelling no puss, healthy tissue underneath. I figured maybe he had injured himself flying off the roost or something so I opted to leave him with the flock and give him awhile since he was taking it easy anyway.
Fast forward a week and he seemed no better, but he was still getting around and coming to the feeder every morning so I have him a few more days, when he seemed to be getting slightly worse (though he had some days where he seemed a bit better than others) and now holding his tail down, I examined him again and found that he seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight. At this point I pulled him from the flock an put him in isolation with one hen who was acting a bit lethargic. After about three days the hen got to come back out because she was acting completely normal, I figured out that she was being bullied and just wasn't getting enough food, she seems fine since making sure she gets her share.
The rooster seemed to be about the same he was still bright and alert but didn't want to get up much, holding his tail down, seemed a bit unsteady on his feet. He has been getting vitamins and electrolytes in his water, and had been getting scrambled eggs, and occasionally blueberries and/or grapes. He picks at his food all day, he drinks water, and he readily gobbles down his treats.
Yesterday I was optimistic that he was improving because when I came in to feed him, he stood up and came to the kennel door, and he seemed to have a bit more of his attitude back. He was still unsteady on his legs but had good reflex (curled toes around my finger and gripped when I pushed my finger into his foot) so I knew there was no paralysis.
This morning however, I went in to feed him and change his bedding and noticed his left leg out to the side. I tested his reflexes in that foot again and nothing, completely useless, no toe curls and when I stand him up it just dangles.
I have 32 chickens total and no one else is showing any symptoms (including 7 of his chicks ranging from about 8-12 weeks old). Here is my dilemma, as great of a rooster as he is, I am ready to see him stop suffering and keep an eye on everyone else in the meantime. The problem is that several of the birds I have right now are his babies that my broodies hatched this year, among them are multiple young roosters. I had found someone who planned to rehome them for me, but now I'm conflicted, if this is possibly mareks I don't want to risk infecting someone else flock. However I can't keep all of these extra birds (roosters) as I can't afford to feed them all and don't want them to kill each other and overwork the hens. I really find the idea of culling them distasteful and they're too young to even get much meat off of them. I'm stuck now, and I'm not sure what to do.
Fast forward a week and he seemed no better, but he was still getting around and coming to the feeder every morning so I have him a few more days, when he seemed to be getting slightly worse (though he had some days where he seemed a bit better than others) and now holding his tail down, I examined him again and found that he seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight. At this point I pulled him from the flock an put him in isolation with one hen who was acting a bit lethargic. After about three days the hen got to come back out because she was acting completely normal, I figured out that she was being bullied and just wasn't getting enough food, she seems fine since making sure she gets her share.
The rooster seemed to be about the same he was still bright and alert but didn't want to get up much, holding his tail down, seemed a bit unsteady on his feet. He has been getting vitamins and electrolytes in his water, and had been getting scrambled eggs, and occasionally blueberries and/or grapes. He picks at his food all day, he drinks water, and he readily gobbles down his treats.
Yesterday I was optimistic that he was improving because when I came in to feed him, he stood up and came to the kennel door, and he seemed to have a bit more of his attitude back. He was still unsteady on his legs but had good reflex (curled toes around my finger and gripped when I pushed my finger into his foot) so I knew there was no paralysis.
This morning however, I went in to feed him and change his bedding and noticed his left leg out to the side. I tested his reflexes in that foot again and nothing, completely useless, no toe curls and when I stand him up it just dangles.
I have 32 chickens total and no one else is showing any symptoms (including 7 of his chicks ranging from about 8-12 weeks old). Here is my dilemma, as great of a rooster as he is, I am ready to see him stop suffering and keep an eye on everyone else in the meantime. The problem is that several of the birds I have right now are his babies that my broodies hatched this year, among them are multiple young roosters. I had found someone who planned to rehome them for me, but now I'm conflicted, if this is possibly mareks I don't want to risk infecting someone else flock. However I can't keep all of these extra birds (roosters) as I can't afford to feed them all and don't want them to kill each other and overwork the hens. I really find the idea of culling them distasteful and they're too young to even get much meat off of them. I'm stuck now, and I'm not sure what to do.
