My Rooster is walking on his "knees"

[enmim]

This mouring my wife, daughter and myself went out to check the grils and noticed that our Americana (sp?) rooster seems to spend a lot of time walking on his lower leg. That is to say he bends his knees and walks around on the leg section between his knee and foot. For sure he does it more when he wants something off the ground, and he is a fairly tall bird. He does stand back up on his feet and walk normally too, just seems that he is spending a considerable amount of time doing the Funky-Chicken-Star-Wars-creature-walk. What the heck is going on?

 

[dlhunicorn]

I have no direct answer for you ... you can start by getting a good complete general supplement like AviaCharge 2000 (sold at McMurry online)...
What is his normal feed? (you do know that roosters should not have layer... you need to set a separate feeder out with a grower or other non-layer ration in it)
What does he get for treats?
Could it possibly be an injury?
Separating him to monitor his symptoms further (incl poo) would be a wise move in my opinion.

 

[enmim]

Thanks I did not know roosters are not supposed to have layer, we actually thought he was a hen until recently, but we have another rooster that has been eating the layer as well. I'll get the supplement and separate him. It is not a injury I checked him out all over, especially his feet, but he never flinched or acted sore, although that is how he acts when he is walking around. He will get up and take a few normal steps and then get down like he forgot it hurt to walk.

 

[dlhunicorn]

and this came on suddenly? (or could he possibly have been showing signs of lameness beforhand and you missed it?)
I will have a better look through my information for you later and post if I find something.

 

[enmim]

Today is the first I've noticed it and I spend alot of time with them so I don't think I would have missed it. Also he is one of the more skiddish birds and today I could pick him up no problem so he is definatly feeling under the weather.

 

[spook]

I had 2 roos that were like that, one named Tyson because- wrong subject...he was Ameraucana (they) and he may have walked to the food, but would sit down and eat, get up and move. He looked as though his legs were to long and his body didn't match. Same thing with the other roo, but only after he was older (thought he was a shee too). I also fed them all layer pellets (Layena) not realizing the diff in food.
Doesn't everyone feed all the same foods?

 

[enmim]

Spook do you still have those roos? Are they otherwise healthy? That is exactly the same problem, he is very tall with long legs. maybe it is just adolescence and he is lazy.

 

[sammi]

I'd look into the Avia Charge..

you can try the Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, Enfamil brand, no iron, 2-3 drops once day on the beak..
then taper off..
and electrolytes..
durvet has both separate vitamins and electrolytes and also a mixture of both.

it might be matter of needing some yogurt also..(plain) along with the vits and electros.

how old is he?

have a read:

http://happyhenhouse.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=natural&action=display&thread=5248

 

[enmim]

He is four months old. The only sign he is showing is the sitting down to eat. He seems to be walking around more today but still sitting when he eats. I think he needs a vitamin.