Relatively new member to the family

[IchiY]

My first time posting here. I joined today, but I've been here several times looking for tips/advice and I've finally decided to join. It's always positive here. I just want to talk about the chicken and the good times since we first got it. I, or we, have a chicken/rooster. I don't really know which - though it crows quite a bit in the morning and afternoon or at random intervals. Also unsure of its gender.
We've had it just north of three months. I don't have on me the pictures of it when it was a few weeks old - we could fit it in our palms.
It's grown quite a bit. I just love it, sitting, petting, and taking care of the chicken. Best is when it sits on my lap and just lays there. It's never fallen asleep, but it's gotten close. Overall, relaxing.

With that all said, it gave us one hell of a scare the other day. As I left it outside to roam, eat grass, and get some fresh air. It always does fine and just relaxes and I always check up on it to make sure it doesn't run off or get hurt. There are strays that always keep distance and mind their own business - I doubt it was from them. But, the other day when coming out to check on it, it was walking on its hocks. I was freaked. It didn't seem in pain or distressed, it just walked like that and it wouldn't stand on its own. It was too late to do anything that day but bring it in and hope for the best while looking for nearby vets that actually work with chickens - hours away. Googled nonstop - always bad/stressing google results. Closest result would be the Perosis or slipped tendon. But, those results were always new-born/week old chicks. So, just prayers and good wishes that nothing serious - which is the other reason I came on here.


This morning, I checked up on it and it was still fine. I brought it outside to see if it was still going on its hocks. Luckily - I hope - it was able to stand on its feet. Though, it seems a bit shakey when it stood. It seems to have gotten better and able to walk around - but it seemed sore. Walking short distances while pounding down its feet before setting back down. But, I'm still concerned as we did nothing so far. I just want my bird to be safe and healthy.
Any comments/replies would be greatly appreciated/welcome. It's nice to be here.

 

[realsis]

hi and welcome. hopefully I can help. the gender of your bird is male if it is crowing. as for hock walking it could be a vitamin deficiency. here is some information on that. riboflavin (Vitamin B2) is a water-soluble vitamin and a cofactor for various enzymes in many systems of the body. Some of the cofactors are important in the oxidation-reduction reactions involved in cell respiration. Riboflavin deficiency is most commonly reported in chickens but it also has been reported in turkeys and pigeons. Deficiency of riboflavin in chickens can cause peripheral neuropathy, resulting in a condition called "curled-toe paralysis." Other clinical signs due to riboflavin deficiency include weakness, slow growth, loss of weight, leg paralysis without curled-toes and walking on hocks with the aid of their wings. Riboflavin deficiency in the hen can result in decreased egg production, increased embryonic mortality and poor hatchability. Among various nutritional deficiencies, chickens are most sensitive to riboflavin deficiency. ...........................Clinical signs in the chickens included paralysis, walking on hocks and occasionally walking on their wings. The incidence of clinical signs in various flocks ranged from 20 percent in one flock to 40 percent in another. Other signs included splayed legs, abnormal droppings,uneven size of birds and increased mortality. Gross lesions included curled-toes in most submissions but distinctly absent in a few. The sciatic nerves were pale yellow, edematous and mild to moderately enlarged with a loss of cross striations. Long bones were soft in birds from several submissions. Microscopic examination of the peripheral nerves revealed axonal degeneration, interstitial edema and proliferation of mononuclear cells and infiltration of lymphocytes.
Analysis of several feed samples for riboflavin revealed levels ranging from 1.1 mg/kg to 2.4 mg/kg of feed. Normal requirement of riboflavin for broiler chickens ranges from 4.6 mg/kg to 5.0 mg/kg of feed. Prompt supplementation of birds with multiple vitamins resulted in dramatic reduction in clinical signs for most birds."

Whenever you see leg problems in birds you should always give a (complete) B vitamin supplement... POLYVISOL lacks B-1 but in this case (B-2) is a good source ... be sure to give breeder birds a complete supplement in their feed to avoid possible problems. so I would give him a good B supplement and see if it helps. I wish you the best.