I think my young d'Uccle roo has arthritis-anything I can do to help him?

[MsBagawkbagawk]

I noticed that my 23-24 week old is having some problems "moving around". He walks fine, but kind of leans back on his "hocks" I guess and then relaxes down. I've never seen a chicken sit down like that. Then he relaxes for a little bit and can run around again, he kind of walks on his tip toes though. He doesn't have any obvious injuries that I can see, except that maybe his legs are a little "close together" and all of his joints on one foot are swollen. The only think I can think of is arthritis, but I don't know how likely that is in such a young bird. Does anyone think that it's arthritis, or any ideas about what I can do to make him more comfortable? Thanks everybody!~Ms. B

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Help anybody?

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

*cricket chirp*

 

[TwoCrows]

Is this swelling in his left foot?? Swollen webbing?? Swollen foot pad?? If so, you may be dealing with MS, Mycoplasma Synoviae. It is a bacterial infection that causes a swollen foot joint, hock and foot pad. Usually only the left foot is involved. At this very moment, I am dealing with the EXACT same thing in my flock. It is contagious to the entire flock. Sometimes the birds will also get slight runny noses, lay funky shaped eggs, anorexia, possibly blue tipped combs. It can mimic bumblefoot. If left untreated, it will lead to permanant lameness and can destroy the liver.

If you can upload pics, it would help. If it looks like my girls feet, then you are probably dealing with MS.

You will need to get your rooster on Baytril. It is a very difficult bacteria to destroy as these bacteria's can hide in healthy cells going undetected for long periods of time. I have had one of my girls on Baytril for 55 days. (I am working with a vet here) She is nearly done with the antibiotics and we are near to slowly withdrawing them. She is also on Doxy as well.

They say many times they do develop arthritis later in life and in my girls foot joint, she has already developed bone spur like growths from this wicked bacteria.

Good luck!

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Thanks for the info!

It is all swollen on his left foot (when viewed from the front), but he is walking just fine now, and later tonight I'm going to go see if the swelling has gone down. When you look at him from the back his hocks are angled closer together than I think is normal too.

How long does it take to get to the rest of the flock? He has been doing this for about a week, and no one else seems to have any problems, yet... I'm hoping that it is not MS, but I'll do some more research.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[TwoCrows]

I think the incubation period for MS is a week or two, however if your rooster is infected, he will be constantly offering up this bacteria. Some of the rest of the flock can grow immunity to this bacteria, but will be carriers for life. If he does have MS, then the swelling is not going to go away by itself. If it does, then maybe he is suffering from an injury, or some sort of confirmation thing going.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Okay, I'll check on the swelling tonight (he doesn't let me catch him) and quarintine him if I think he has it. Hopefully if he does I can keep some of them safe.

It's also pretty likely that it is just an injury. He had been out in my dad's workshop when I noticed him walking weird, so he might of stepped on something or sprained something.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Ok, so the swelling has gone down to normal and he is walking a lot better. Do you think he'll be okay?

 

[TwoCrows]

If the swelling has gone down, it is possible he only injured himself. Watch him and if need be, you can cage him for a day or two to let him heal over.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Yep, he's totally normal now. Except that he can barely crow, but that isn't really a bad thing I guess.