Marek's Disease or Injury? Or something else?

[Tatokral]

My youngest rescue cockerel (hatched September 23) started sitting down constantly. I first noticed this yesterday while I was letting them roam the backyard. He would walk around for a few minutes (seemed as if he was struggling to walk too) and then just plop down and sit for a minute. In about 30 minutes he had to sit down 4-5 times yesterday. He has two older brothers (6 hours and 2 days older, slightly bigger in size) picking on him when he sits down.

I was told these are a fighting game breed. So when I let them out from their run into the backyard, they puff their feathers and stare each other down in what I assume to be playful manner. They never injured each other or hit each other before (there are no hens, just these three brothers). But they are maturing, so at first I thought it was an injury from rough playing. But upon researching the symptoms, I found some very scary possibilities, mainly Marek's Disease. I've raised these boys as pets since they were hatchlings, and I want to save them if I can.

I took this video and some pictures today. And I brought him home to separate him from his brothers, to maybe help him recover faster. He eats well, he can stand up and walk, doesn't have any visible injuries, and seems to be in good health to my inexperienced eyes. If anybody could help me figure this out, it would be greatly appreciated.

View attachment 1661030

 

[azygous]

I've had a number of chickens with this problem. In every case, including an eight-year old hen I have at present, I've not been able to diagnose the precise problem.

Without bruising and swelling and deformity, I can only go on the assumption that it's an arthritic condition so I treat my hen with baby aspirin which give her an bit of relief and encourages her to be more active.

I give her one 81 grain tablet each morning. You could try that. If it helps your rooster to spend less time sitting, it can indicate he may have arthritis, too. There isn't much more you can do. By the way, I don't think it's Marek's, at least not at this point.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Do I see some pin feathers coming in? Is he mid-molt?
I have seen this quite a few times in molting chickens when it really takes it out of them.
All I can suggest is to up his protein and put him on some poultry vitamins for a while. He is absolutely adorable btw
For as long as he is getting around ok and not getting picked on I would think he will be much happier left with his brothers - therefore healing better. I will be interested to hear what others say....
Eitherways, please do keep us up to date on how he is doing please, that's how we learn.
Best wishes with him!

 

[coach723]

Chickens don't really 'play' with each other. What you are seeing with the raised hackles is them working out their pecking order as they mature. It can be mild, or in some cases brutal. Whether you have only roo's, only hens, or a mix, there will be a pecking order, and it will change and shift as the birds do. http://chickenrunrescue.org/filter/Care-and-Rehabilitation/Rooster-Behavior
Another possibility for hock sitting and wobbliness is a riboflavin deficiency. If he's being kept from feed because he is low in the pecking order, it may contribute. You can supplement riboflavin with a human B complex tablet ground up and mixed in feed to see if it helps. A bird showing signs of weakness or illness will often be targeted and picked on or attacked, so if that is happening then separating him will keep him from being hurt more. Sometimes birds are born with or develop neurological issues or 'ticks' that have no easy explanation. It would be a good idea to check him for lice/mites to be safe, that can cause anemia and weaken them. I have one that head shakes and bobs for no known reason, has been doing it since about 6 months old, he's now 4.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree with possible caging him with the others, and poviding his own feed and water. It sometimes is best to have separate large pens for roosters, so they don’t fight. Vitamin B complex tablets are great and inexpensive to use to provide the b vitamins needed for leg health. I use a cheese grater, and just grate a 1/4 a tablet onto feed. Sprinkle a little water or a few vegetable oil to get it to cling to his feed. He may be getting pushed away from his food and water by the other roosters, and that is normal with pecking order issues. There also is a vitamin with trace minerals that you can sprinkle on the feed the same way, in case there is a mineral deficiency. This is it for $10 at Tractor Supply:

 

[Tatokral]

I've had a number of chickens with this problem. In every case, including an eight-year old hen I have at present, I've not been able to diagnose the precise problem.

Without bruising and swelling and deformity, I can only go on the assumption that it's an arthritic condition so I treat my hen with baby aspirin which give her an bit of relief and encourages her to be more active.

I give her one 81 grain tablet each morning. You could try that. If it helps your rooster to spend less time sitting, it can indicate he may have arthritis, too. There isn't much more you can do. By the way, I don't think it's Marek's, at least not at this point.

I didn't know chickens could get arthritis. He started having these troubles after a torrential rain. Their coop didn't get wet, but their chicken run was practically flooded for a few hours. Bad weather made his pains worse maybe? I will buy some aspirin tomorrow and see if it helps. Thank you for replying

Do I see some pin feathers coming in? Is he mid-molt?
I have seen this quite a few times in molting chickens when it really takes it out of them.
All I can suggest is to up his protein and put him on some poultry vitamins for a while. He is absolutely adorable btw
For as long as he is getting around ok and not getting picked on I would think he will be much happier left with his brothers - therefore healing better. I will be interested to hear what others say....
Eitherways, please do keep us up to date on how he is doing please, that's how we learn.
Best wishes with him!

I think he is molting yes. I mixed some boiled eggs in his food and vitamin drops in his water, I hope it helps. Still wanna keep him separated for a few days, he really can't defend himself right now, he's the smallest one too. I will keep this thread updated, thank you so much for replying

Chickens don't really 'play' with each other. What you are seeing with the raised hackles is them working out their pecking order as they mature. It can be mild, or in some cases brutal. Whether you have only roo's, only hens, or a mix, there will be a pecking order, and it will change and shift as the birds do. http://chickenrunrescue.org/filter/Care-and-Rehabilitation/Rooster-Behavior
Another possibility for hock sitting and wobbliness is a riboflavin deficiency. If he's being kept from feed because he is low in the pecking order, it may contribute. You can supplement riboflavin with a human B complex tablet ground up and mixed in feed to see if it helps. A bird showing signs of weakness or illness will often be targeted and picked on or attacked, so if that is happening then separating him will keep him from being hurt more. Sometimes birds are born with or develop neurological issues or 'ticks' that have no easy explanation. It would be a good idea to check him for lice/mites to be safe, that can cause anemia and weaken them. I have one that head shakes and bobs for no known reason, has been doing it since about 6 months old, he's now 4.

I guess I was being too optimistic thinking they were "playing". Thankfully none of them got an injury from it before. His older brother is on top of the pecking order, but ever since they were little, they don't mind eating from the same bowl without fighting. I always keep PLENTY of feed available to them (I probably overdo it) so I don't think being kept from feed is an issue. Maybe I need to supplement their food more? I give them a mix of four grains and some greens every day. His brothers definitely picked up on his weakness today though, and they were extra hard on him, so I brought him home. I'm hoping some alone time will help him heal better. I really hope it's not a neurological issue. Sorry to hear that about your chicken And thank you for replying

I agree with possible caging him with the others, and poviding his own feed and water. It sometimes is best to have separate large pens for roosters, so they don’t fight. Vitamin B complex tablets are great and inexpensive to use to provide the b vitamins needed for leg health. I use a cheese grater, and just grate a 1/4 a tablet onto feed. Sprinkle a little water or a few vegetable oil to get it to cling to his feed. He may be getting pushed away from his food and water by the other roosters, and that is normal with pecking order issues. There also is a vitamin with trace minerals that you can sprinkle on the feed the same way, in case there is a mineral deficiency. This is it for $10 at Tractor Supply:

Their coop and run area is too small for that right now I'm afraid I was in the middle of building a bigger place for them but the construction has slowed down due to constant rains lately. I'm gonna be shopping for supplements and vitamins tomorrow, thank you for the tips

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I was told these are a fighting game breed. So when I let them out from their run into the backyard, they puff their feathers and stare each other down in what I assume to be playful manner. They never injured each other or hit each other before

Where are you located in the world (state/country)?
What are you feeding them?

I agree, try the vitamins to see if there is improvement. It's hard to tell in the video, but does his left hock bend inward a little? Compare it to the others.

They look like gamefowl to me. As they mature you will need to house each young male in a separate pen due to fighting. They may look like they are playing at the moment, but when they get a bit more age on them, they will fight.