Injured foot or leg

[Gingera]

Good morning. I just introduced myself with photos of my flock minutes ago. I’m new to BYC. Our sweet rooster Merle has injured his leg or foot. We’ve checked for bumble foot - nope. Our vet won’t do anything for a broken or sprained leg/foot.

We have a crappy chicken coop design. Hard lesson after expensive purchase. The ramp is steep. Our chickens get up fine, but struggle down. We think Merle fell off the ramp as we’ve seen him stumble a few times.

I’ve given him aspirin, soaked his foot in epson salt ( did this early on incase it was an infection), kept him in the coop so he wouldn’t walk as much, but I see no improvement. I have to pick him
Up and place him in the sleep area at night and put him back out in the morning. He’s not crowing. He’s eating but not as much and seems to have lost weight. What do I do?

 

[azygous]

Be sure the aspirin you are giving Merle is the proper dosage - 81 grain, also known as chewable children's aspirin, twice a day.

Can you post a pic of your coop roosting bar and the ramp. People might have suggestions for you on ways to improve them.

This could be an injury or symptoms of an avian virus. Time will tell as the first will improve while the latter will become worse. Things you can do to help him heal if it's an injury are to give him vitamin B complex every day to help strengthen his legs. You may need to give him special feedings if he's refusing to eat. Try offering scrambled egg and boiled rice to get him interested.

 

[coach723]

Some birds do better with steps up and down rather than a ramp. Even stacked hay bales can work.
Examination should help determine if there is a fracture. If it's a strain or sprain, sometimes those can take weeks to months to resolve, it's very hard to predict. I will attach a manual that shows how to examine for fractures, and how to splint if needed, if not useful now it may be in the future. I would not splint unless you are certain there is a fracture, and splints need to be checked often to make sure there is no swelling (if they are too tight circulation can be lost) or irritation from rubbing.

 

[Gingera]

Be sure the aspirin you are giving Merle is the proper dosage - 81 grain, also known as chewable children's aspirin, twice a day.

Can you post a pic of your coop roosting bar and the ramp. People might have suggestions for you on ways to improve them.

This could be an injury or symptoms of an avian virus. Time will tell as the first will improve while the latter will become worse. Things you can do to help him heal if it's an injury are to give him vitamin B complex every day to help strengthen his legs. You may need to give him special feedings if he's refusing to eat. Try offering scrambled egg and boiled rice to get him interested.

Thank you. He is getting worse. I have given him baby aspirin. He gobbles it up. He can’t even stand now. And I noticed tonight the girls were not surrounding him
Like they have been. They were sticking near him previously. This evening when I got home they were distanced. I brought him in, fed him Apples and eggs, and now I’ve placed him in a box because he was flapping his wings trying to move but it just flipped him About. I feel so bad for him. He’s been such a good rooster.

 

[Gingera]

Some birds do better with steps up and down rather than a ramp. Even stacked hay bales can work.
Examination should help determine if there is a fracture. If it's a strain or sprain, sometimes those can take weeks to months to resolve, it's very hard to predict. I will attach a manual that shows how to examine for fractures, and how to splint if needed, if not useful now it may be in the future. I would not splint unless you are certain there is a fracture, and splints need to be checked often to make sure there is no swelling (if they are too tight circulation can be lost) or irritation from rubbing.

Thank you so much for the pdf. And thanks for the advice. I was going to wrap his legs tonight as he can’t even stand. This makes me think it isn’t a break. Good to know I shouldn’t. I am not sure he’s gonna make it. He is eating and wide eyed. But he’s immobile. Sad.

 

[azygous]

It's pointing toward an avian virus being the cause of his paralysis. Unlike an injury, virus paralysis moves quickly to paralyze. In severe cases, the bird won't be able to lift his head to eat. In that case, it's all but over with.

Please think about getting a necropsy if he dies. You can locate a state lab that does animal testing and they could also euthanize him for you, then do the tests to find out if you have an avian virus in your flock. If you are in the US and will state your location, we can help you find the lab info.

 

[coach723]

I completely agree with the recommendation for a necropsy. The progression does make it seem more likely that it could be a virus.

 

[Gingera]

It's pointing toward an avian virus being the cause of his paralysis. Unlike an injury, virus paralysis moves quickly to paralyze. In severe cases, the bird won't be able to lift his head to eat. In that case, it's all but over with.

Please think about getting a necropsy if he dies. You can locate a state lab that does animal testing and they could also euthanize him for you, then do the tests to find out if you have an avian virus in your flock. If you are in the US and will state your location, we can help you find the lab info.

I’m in Rock Hill, SC. We do not have great chicken vets. Just two. Both are outside our immediate area. And it is hard to get in to either for an appointment. The one I go to doesn’t even do blood work when you take your chicken in for sickness.
Regarding Merle, he’s so alert. And he wants to Interact with his girls. It’s his right leg that’s “injured”. He flaps his wings to try and scoot. Obviously he doesn’t get much movement. Im Feeding him eggs, and I lowered the feeding can and sit Him next to it so he can reach it. He’s got a good appetite. And at times he moves short distances. Im not sure how long it takes or how he does it as it doesn’t occur when im
Around.

 

[azygous]

How old is Merle? Lameness in one leg is one of the classic signs of lymphoid leucosis, especially if he's under one year. It can only be diagnosed after death with a necropsy. If Merle continues to get worse, if the other leg also becomes paralyzed, then you can be reasonably certain this is due to an avian virus. There is no treatment for it although you can try vitamin B complex and vitamin E.

Call this office of your state department of agriculture and ask if they do necropsies on chickens and if they will euthanize if you bring Merle to them and then do the tests. I'm not talking about do this now. Only if he gets worse and there is no chance of him recovering.


Adam Leaphart, Ph.D., M(ASCP)CM, Laboratory Services Director
[email protected]
803-737-9714

123 Ballard Court
West Columbia, SC 29172

 

[Gingera]

How old is Merle? Lameness in one leg is one of the classic signs of lymphoid leucosis, especially if he's under one year. It can only be diagnosed after death with a necropsy. If Merle continues to get worse, if the other leg also becomes paralyzed, then you can be reasonably certain this is due to an avian virus. There is no treatment for it although you can try vitamin B complex and vitamin E.

Call this office of your state department of agriculture and ask if they do necropsies on chickens and if they will euthanize if you bring Merle to them and then do the tests. I'm not talking about do this now. Only if he gets worse and there is no chance of him recovering.


Adam Leaphart, Ph.D., M(ASCP)CM, Laboratory Services Director
[email protected]
803-737-9714

123 Ballard Court
West Columbia, SC 29172

You are so kind to spend the time offering assistance. Merle is 5+ months old. I’m taking photos. It’s hard to see anything as he is a silkie. He won’t bend his right leg. He just sits. He flaps around to move when he has to urinate or poop. Otherwise he’s very alert. And he eats well.