My rooster has a bad leg—help!

[JosiesMom]

My Rhode Island Red rooster is one year old. He has had a limp and a bum hock joint for months but it hasn’t caused any trouble. Over the weekend I noticed that his right toe is and it has gotten worse since then. The tip of his right toe is falling off and now the middle toe is darkening. As of today he seems to be in pain and his hock joint is pink.

Any suggestions?

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not sure what has caused the swelling in his hock, but his toes look to have frostbite. Usually the black leathery toes will fall off a month or more after a frostbite event.
Swelling in a hock can be due to an injury, or can be a sign of a joint infection. The infection can be from a virus or from a bacteria, such as mycoplasma synovitis or E.coli. If he had been dealing with the frostbite, he could have injured his leg getting off a roost. So sorry about his toes.

 

[JosiesMom]

I am not sure what has caused the swelling in his hock, but his toes look to have frostbite. Usually the black leathery toes will fall off a month or more after a frostbite event.
Swelling in a hock can be due to an injury, or can be a sign of a joint infection. The infection can be from a virus or from a bacteria, such as mycoplasma synovitis or E.coli. If he had been dealing with the frostbite, he could have injured his leg getting off a roost. So sorry about his toes.

 

[JosiesMom]

Is he in danger of loosing his life?

 

[Eggcessive]

His toes may come off, but he can still walk on his feet. I really do not know exactly what is wrong with his swollen hock. It could be an injury, a joint infection, and it could even be a tumor. Is there any way that you could see a vet? For his toes, you could spray them with iodine (betadine) or Vetericyn.

 

[JosiesMom]

Is the iodine (betadine) or Vetericy for infection?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, it is helpful for frostbitten toes. Betadine (povidone iodine) is sold in the first aid aisle of Walmart as Equate
First Aid Antiseptic for $6. Here is some reading with pictures about frostbite:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/frostbit-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/frostbite

 

[JosiesMom]

I so appreciate your help!!