Limping roo now losing weight...ideas?

[KellyHM]

I have a rooster that started limping 3 weeks ago. It came on acutely and is severe enough that he will toe-touch, but doesn't bear any weight on that leg. I couldn't find any external injuries then or now. I put him in a pen by himself to baby him, but he hasn't gotten any better. I took him in 2 days ago to have his leg x-rayed, which showed no reason for his limping. However, when I handled him I realized he has lost a LOT of weight...he's skin and bones! Now he doesn't even seem to have an appetite and just lays around and hardly tries to walk at all. I've been syringe feeding him and giving him pain meds, but he doesn't seem to want to make any improvement. Any ideas on how else to help him?

 

[purpletree23]

What kind of pain meds? Why syringe feeding? Does he have mites or lice? That can cause weight loss. Try stimulating his appetite and getting him treats now and then. Try scrambled egg, chopped greens, probiotics for his digestion. My chickens won't eat the yogurt plain so I mix a tablespoon with cheerios. A little peeled diced apple. Grapes. A little scratch. Anything to get him to eat.

He might be lonely. Have you tried to reintroduce him? Do you have other roosters?

 

[KellyHM]

He's on butorphanol (nice drugs...from the vet). I'm syringe feeding him b/c he's not eating much on his own...won't even look at scrambled egg or other goodies...barely picks at anything. I can't see any bugs on him and he's been dewormed. He may be lonely, but he's where he can see the other chickens and I let him out of his pen during the day, but he just lays around.

 

[purpletree23]

Sounds like you are doing everything you can. I know sometimes when I take cold medicine it knocks out my appetite. Could that be happening with the pain meds? You already paid for a vet visit, can you call him/her for suggestions? What would happen if you let him in the pen with the rest of the gang instead of just being able to see them. Chickens are a very social creatures and he's just lonely.

 

[KellyHM]

I took him out of the pen originally b/c I was afraid the other roos would hurt him worse and b/c he was just sitting in one spot and not eating enough. He lost his appetite before I started the pain meds, although I'm sure they could depress it some. He also sees the other chickens during the day while they're free ranging...he could go into the pen with them at night, but he won't move far enough to do it.

 

[robin416]

Do you think there is any chance your vet would make up a prednisone suspension for you? Its a shot in the dark but a very affective anti inflammatory. Or ask your vet about Metacam. I haven't used the Metacam but have used the pred.

My vet made it up with a molassis flavor so the bird drank it from the spoon.

 

[paparootzi]

How OLD is he?

You said he had an x-ray (that ruled out external injuries).

Maybe it's a more serious problem internally?

I haven't had chickens very long but I've had a similar experience with my 13 year old dog "Ladybug" ...wouldn't eat an entire weekend (not even her favorite people food)...vet ran bloodwork...turned out to be kidney problems.

I hope it's nothing serious...hope he gets better.