My rooster hurt his foot or leg

[Lynette]

Yesterday morning when I went out to take care of my chickens, I noticed one of my roosters was trying not to walk on one of his legs. I don't know what happened. I am not sure if he hurt his foot or his leg or even how bad it is. I brought him in the house in a box. I called my vet this morning, but of course, he treats every other barnyard animal. I guess the only thing I can do is to nurse him back to health myself. I just wish I knew what is hurt on him, but I don't know how to tell. Has anyone else had this and did it heal?

 

[jjthink]

Try to get him in an area where he doesn't have to jump up or down off of anything for at least a few days, either by providing easy steps to his perch or some other arrangement. Crush one 81 mg baby aspirin into a cup of drinking water (or five 325 mg aspirins per gallon) = fresh batch at least daily. If he got a sprain he should start to get relief but it could take a few weeks before he recovers. Watch for any other signs of ailing that would point to something other than a sprain but hopefully that's all it is. Are you certain he wasn't attacked by any preds?
JJ

 

[joebryant]

It's very possible that it's bumblefoot. Check the pads of his feet.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=236649

 

[Lynette]

I was just looking at the bottom of his foot and it looks normal. My chickens are locked in their coop all night, so it wasn't a predator. He is eating and drinking and making his usual noises, so I am hopeful that he will recover. He is trying to stand on it but he wobbles and uses his wings to try to balance. I don't have a perch in the box because I don't think he can stay on one if I did. I will try the baby aspirin.

 

[Silkie Sue]

is he limping? or is he holding his hurt leg straight back behind him?
i have a Silkie white hen i just brought in this morning that is doing those things... if i get any info i'll let you know
good luck!!!

 

[Lynette]

Well, he is standing a little better on his leg. Although still wobbly. Now his poop is abnormal. It is watery and reddish. I don't know what is wrong with him. I thought he was getting better and his leg was the only problem, but now that his poop isn't normal, I don't think so. Can someone please tell me what it means?

 

[jjthink]

Oh dear. How is your roo doing now?

JJ

 

[Silkie Sue]

is he getting better???
my silkie i think is paralyzed...
i will post today
good luck with your guy

 

[cbeth95]

This very thing happened to my hen earlier this year. I couldn't find her anywhere, and then finally I found her in the corner of the coop hiding. She was laying down with her head in the corner of the wall. So I picked her up and felt that she had not eaten anything yet, and it was later in the day. So I know it happened over night. She acted a bit drowsy so I tried to make her stand, and she just laid down and fanned her wing out. So I brought her inside and kept an eye on her, but she still didn't want to stand up. So I decided to bring her to a vet that would take a chicken, and it turned out that she broke a bone in her leg. Shes fine now, almost a year later. But she does have a limp and it bothers her in the cold weather. But she manages. I never knew what happen to her, or how she broke her leg.

My best advice is to just keep him inside. And try to find a vet that will take him in. There has to be someone out there.

Good luck!

 

[Lynette]

He is still limping, but his poop did go back to normal. It was only watery that one time, so not sure what that was all about. The only thing I can think of is he jumped down and hurt himself. There is no other explanation. I just wish it would heal. I am afraid the others will be mean to him if they realize he is hurt. So far so good on that.