Leg injury UPDATED

[mossyoakpro]

Hey folks, while out with the flock today I noticed one of my BR's limping pretty badly. I was able to pick her up and check her foot. It's not her foot that I can tell it looks to be more her hip area as she was like stretching it out while she was walking. I'm thinking maybe the roo got a little rough? She eats and drinks fine but I noticed she stays under things so the roo cannot get to her I'm guessing....is there anything I can do for her or do they just finally get over these things? TIA

 

[mossyoakpro]

She seems to be perfectly fine today!! No limp at all....I'm guessing it was Ted being his usual teenage self and hurt her leg while trying to get his groove on....

 

[LaFleche]

Glad she recovered. How old are they in month and how many in total?
What breeds?

 

[mossyoakpro]

Glad she recovered. How old are they in month and how many in total?
What breeds?

They are 19 weeks old this week so almost 5 months.....9 total(8pullets) that include 3 BR, 3 Sapphire gem(Blue Star) and 3 RIR. I had 13 but I rehomed the others because it was getting to be too much to look after....you would not think that getting rid of 4 makes a big difference but it absolutely does. I can manage them much easier now....my wife didn't want me to get them so I take care of them myself but I'm guessing as soon as they start paying rent with eggs her tune will change! LOL

 

[Eggcessive]

You might want to separate the young cockerel in a pen or dog crate for awhile to give the pullets a break, until hormones settle a bit. Or separate the pullet if she starts limping again. The roosters calm down some in winter when hormones are lower. Older calm roosters are valuable because they don’t overmate, hurt, or cause feather loss in the hens.

 

[mossyoakpro]

You might want to separate the young cockerel in a pen or dog crate for awhile to give the pullets a break, until hormones settle a bit. Or separate the pullet if she starts limping again. The roosters calm down some in winter when hormones are lower. Older calm roosters are valuable because they don’t overmate, hurt, or cause feather loss in the hens.

So just put him in a crate in the run? With food and water of course...

 

[Eggcessive]

Correct, or you could separate him away from them which might be less stressful for him. Bedding, food, and water should be included. Many chicken owners have rooster coops or breeding pens where they can be separated or rotated in and out of the flock. I love having a rooster if they are calm and good to hens, but they are not necessary for them to lay eggs.

 

[LaFleche]

They are 19 weeks old this week so almost 5 months.....9 total(8pullets) that include 3 BR, 3 Sapphire gem(Blue Star) and 3 RIR. I had 13 but I rehomed the others because it was getting to be too much to look after....you would not think that getting rid of 4 makes a big difference but it absolutely does. I can manage them much easier now....my wife didn't want me to get them so I take care of them myself but I'm guessing as soon as they start paying rent with eggs her tune will change! LOL

Until they are laying, the pullets need to be left alone to mature and not be harrassed by a hormonal cockerel.

Is he an accidental acquisition that was supposed to be a pullet or do you want a male on your flock?

 

[mossyoakpro]

Until they are laying, the pullets need to be left alone to mature and not be harrassed by a hormonal cockerel.

Is he an accidental acquisition that was supposed to be a pullet or do you want a male on your flock?

I wanted one to help protect since I free range all day every day...

 

[mossyoakpro]

Correct, or you could separate him away from them which might be less stressful for him. Bedding, food, and water should be included. Many chicken owners have rooster coops or breeding pens where they can be separated or rotated in and out of the flock. I love having a rooster if they are calm and good to hens, but they are not necessary for them to lay eggs.

I'm going to try and lock him in the run every day if possible while the pullets run around the yard...