Limping, then abrupt death in a Jersey Giant

[thines]

If this is posted somewhere else, please forgive me as I am new here. My family acquired a small flock of chickens from another family over the last couple weeks. We did this in two batches. In the second batch, we acquired a rather large black chicken that we have guessed to be a Jersey Giant. On this last Friday, I noticed that he had started limping, but was still eating and moving around ok. On Saturday, he wasn't moving as well, so I decided to separate him from the rest of the flock. I had assumed that he may have bruised his leg or foot from jumping down from the nesting area that the hens use, as he always seems to land hard. I figured being separated would help him not be so active, and be able to heal. Yesterday he didn't move around a lot, but did with some prodding. This morning, my husband thought he was still in the same place as when we went to bed last night,so I went to check on him, and he wouldn't stand up. He was very calm, let me pick him up, handle him, feel around to see if anything felt "off". He did wince a little why I touched one of his toes on the foot he was favoring while limping. I didn't see any sores, or any obvious signs of trauma. I do know that on Saturday prior to us moving him, he did have some watery poo... Like what is described when they are expelling extra water to help regulate body temperature. This morning while I held him, I tried to get him to drink water, eat pellets, or even scratch, something he normally comes running for in the morning. Today he wouldn't take anything. I did go out a few times to check on him, and a couple times, he had moved around in the pen a bit, but not far. I checked on him about 3pm, and he was still fine, no obvious signs of distress, but when I checked on him at 5, he was dead. Even though we've only had him for a week, he quickly became one of my favorites because he was so docile. I have already decided I want to get another to replace him, but no more additions to our chicken family, until I have an idea of what might have happened. Any help would be great! Thank you all in advance.

 

[thines]

Any ideas? This is really troubling me, and I feel like my post has been overlooked. Not great as a newcomer to the forum.

 

[mishella69]

I don't have any advice since I think I am going through the same thing. My rooster wasn't feeling well yesterday. He would keep to himself all day and slept a lot but did go on the roast with the rest of the chickens at night. Then today I let all the chickens out to free range and he stayed in the run and wouldn't move so I went to check on him and I stood him up and he started limping so I took him inside the house to rest. He did eat & drink but he is sleeping alot and has very watery diarrhea. Hours later I picked him up and put him on the floor and he almost fell over when he tried to put weight on his bad leg. He just stood there holding his leg up and constantly closing his eyes. I felt around and I didn't feel anything wrong with his leg except its slightly warmer then the other leg. So I have no clue what is going on and now I am scared he will die since I read your post.

Does ANYONE have an idea what is going on with our chickens please!!!!!!

 

[thines]

I certainly don't want to scare ya, but unfortunately it sounds just the same. My husband said he thought the limpy leg felt slightly warmer than the good leg. :-( I guess the good news (if you could call it that) was that my rooster didn't act like he was suffering, once he laid down.

 

[mishella69]

I'm sorry you lost him. I have been researching Merack's disease and it kinda sounds like it which is bad. I hope your roo didnt have it or mine.