Injured leg??

[onyx2011]

On sunday i took a small dog crate and moved him to it... Now he wont stand at all!!! He just leans on the cage laying down. Do chickens need rehab?? Is this normal???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is he eating/drinking?
How old is he?

Are you certain that he was injured? If he is declining further, then leg issues can be a result of an illness like Marek's.
If you have vet care, that is always best.

 

[onyx2011]

No vet care as im a high schooler without a job and parents think hes just a dumb chicken, he is eating but doesnt drink often(he doesn't like eating and drinking when im around) hes a year old. Dad made me sit him in the run and one of the hens wont stop scratching at him and laying on him?? Im scared for his health at this point.. Ive noticed that in the past couple of days he has been maneuvering via his wings.

 

[onyx2011]

 

[onyx2011]

He lays on his right side constantly

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds more and more like he may have Mareks, but a serious leg or hip injury could still be possible. Since he can’t get around, he may starve. I would make him a chicken sling to get him upright, and set food and water cups right in front of him. You make make a sling inside a dog crate and attach food and water to the door. Google chicken slings for pictures.

Start some poultry vitamins in his water or crush 1/2 B Complex vitamin tablet in his food daily. If you should lose him, send his body into your state vet for a necropsy. That is the best way to diagnose Mareks disease.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It sounds more and more like he may have Mareks, but a serious leg or hip injury could still be possible. Since he can’t get around, he may starve. I would make him a chicken sling to get him upright, and set food and water cups right in front of him. You make make a sling inside a dog crate and attach food and water to the door. Google chicken slings for pictures.

Start some poultry vitamins in his water or crush 1/2 B Complex vitamin tablet in his food daily. If you should lose him, send his body into your state vet for a necropsy. That is the best way to diagnose Mareks disease.

I agree with @Eggcessive from the position he is staying in, it's very possible he may be suffering from Marek's. Good advice about the vitamins and seeing that he is getting food/water.

I realize that you have been doing your best taking care of him, but if the hens are scratching at him, they may eventually turn on him and attack while he is in a weakened state. If you have some chicken wire - can you section off a safe area for him so he is not bothered by the flock.

You may also want to give the feet/legs a good soaking and remove the debris that is packed into the nooks/crannies of his feet. Once you have his feet cleaned, post some photos of the bottoms of both feet and of the legs.

 

[onyx2011]

Working on it all rn, trying to see how i can create a chicken sling... How do chickens contract mareks disease? My flock of 5 have been alone, i got them from tractor supply as chicks,and they're all a year old. We live in isolated countryside on a highway, and there's no neighbors at all for miles,and none of which i have even seen chickens with. Can they contract them from wildlife? We live in a swampish area, so ducks and turkeys make frequent visits to our yard,but typically avoid when the chickens are turned loose.

I apologize if i come across as ignorant, but im just really new at this all... Even though theyre a year old,i suppose im semi lucky as i have had no trouble within the flock until now

 

[onyx2011]

Actually, about a month ago, a chicken died from a raccoon or a possum attack while we were out shopping... Can chickens contract anything from corpses??

 

[onyx2011]

Just brought the rooster inside and i think hes getting worse... He started shivering while i washed his feet with warm water and his toes wont curl around my hand like they did a couple days ago...theyre just limp... I think hes dying. (Sorry for not scrubbing as good as i should have... I just felt so guilty when he kept staring at me while i held him in my lap)