Limping Cockerel

[Blisschick]

One of my BLR boys has got a problems with his right leg. He tries to walk on it, but all he ends up doing is stepping lightly enough on it to get his other foot forward. I've checked to see if the tendon may have popped out of place on the hock (it hasn't), felt to see if his hip is out of joint (it's not), and cannot seem to find what exactly is causing his pain. Is there a possibility that he's got a torn or pulled muscle? He's still eating well and isn't acting ill, it's just he's not wanting to move around too much, even though he's wanting to stand on it. His mobility is causing him issues outside...one dominant cockerel keeps trying to do his business with him, and I just had to pull my tom turkey off of him for the same thing. He nearly crushed him!

Any thoughts as to what his problem could be?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

My guess is he streched a muscle or tendon (probably fighting). You may have to keep him separate if the other birds will not leave him alone. Such things will not heal quickly, he'll have a limp for awhile.

 

[Blisschick]

He's still pretty young, so I doubt if it was from fighting. I do agree I need to separate him, though, I just don't know how I'm going to do it at the moment.

 

[muddler6]

My dominant cockeral has the same problem, but it doesn't keep him from doing his business with the girls. If he's taking a beating you probably need to seperate him from the others though until he gets big enough to establish his place and the others leave him alone. I used a folding dog crate that I was able to keep in the coop to seperate birds before and it worked pretty well as a temporary solution, then you can spoil him a little with treats and vitamins, etc.

 

[Pinenot]

Have you checked his feet or nails?

I just wonder if he is sore from the others trying to mount him???

 

[Blisschick]

Everything on him is fine, but I did notice that the muscle on the back of his leg is smaller than on the good leg, probably from not using it like he should. I don't know what caused him to get his injury...I noticed he was limping a little about a week ago, but nothing like he's doing now. I don't have any large crates to keep him in, but I do have an empty kennel. I just need to make him some sort of shelter.

 

[sammi]

is it possible that the foot is the problem, and not the leg?

please check the bottom of the foot..look for any sore, or scab. (Bumblefoot)

also check for splinter, or glass, or small stone, etc.
check his nails, and in between the toes..
any heat or swelling.

if you find anything..please post back and describe..

do separate him in small area...he needs protection right now, and needs to rest the leg/foot.
if possible, give him a very low roost. ( a few inches high)..and some bedding..
give extra protein. keep warm.

if you can find no sign of injury to the foot.. resting the leg will help.

 

[Blisschick]

No injury on the foot. That was one of the first things I checked.