Trying to figure out when my rooster is limping? He doesn't have any cuts on his feet that I can see and the other chickens are leaving him alone, I've noticed that the joints on his legs are very red does anyone have any idea what the problem might be? I appreciate it
Rooster's feet and legs tend to look very pinkish red when they are young and most fertile. But red swollen joints can be a sign of mycoplasma synoviae (MS) and viral arthritis/tenosynovitis. The key is to figure out if you are seeing normal redness in his legs, or if there is a problem. He could just have a sprain, which could get better from a week or two of rest in a cage in the coop or run where he could see the other chickens. Look for swelling of the hocks or elbows. Vitamins or a B Complex tablet in his water would be good while he is resting his leg. Look around at your roosts to see if they are too high. Here are a couple of links to read about those diseases: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/99/mycoplasma-synoviae-infection-ms-infectious-synovitis http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/pou...nfection_in_poultry_infectious_synovitis.html http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/164/viral-arthritis