Injured Rooster

[glow12]

I have a five month old rooster who has had a swollen leg for several weeks. I have posted about it in the past, but had very little replies. His hock joint is very swollen and hot to the touch. He does limp, but doesn't peck at it. Any thoughts?

 

[ashlierami]

I have a five month old rooster who has had a swollen leg for several weeks. I have posted about it in the past, but had very little replies. His hock joint is very swollen and hot to the touch. He does limp, but doesn't peck at it. Any thoughts?

I'm not sure but mycoplasma synovaie comes to mind . I had this in a quail, she had swollen hocks (fluid) that were hot to touch and she had a limp. I took her to the vet and I was given antibiotics. It treated her but no cure. She's forever a carrier. At times it shows symptoms and I have to treat her again. I would do a search on mycoplasma synovaie in chickens and see if this fits your guy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do the ankles look swollen as well? The hock may have been injured, but mycoplasma synovitis is known to cause swelling of the hock and ankle joints. There also can be a yellow exudate under the skin.

Injuries, and leg bone deformities that cause the hock tendon to be affected are common. Does he still roost at night? I might try forcing him to rest his leg by placing him in a crate with food and water. But still keep him with his flock, since he may become upset or lonely.

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually MS will affect both legs, but could possibly just affect one leg. I would lean more to an injury with just one leg affected. Here is a good article about mycoplasma synovitis (MS) in chickens:
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/mycoplasmosis/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-in-poultry

 

[glow12]

Do the ankles look swollen as well? The hock may have been injured, but mycoplasma synovitis is known to cause swelling of the hock and ankle joints. There also can be a yellow exudate under the skin.

Injuries, and leg bone deformities that cause the hock tendon to be affected are common. Does he still roost at night? I might try forcing him to rest his leg by placing him in a crate with food and water. But still keep him with his flock, since he may become upset or lonely.

Nothing below his hock is swollen. I haven't seen any external injuries near it if that helps. He sits on the ground of the coup with a few hens because the roosts are full.