I have an injured BPR rooster, 26 weeks, in my basement 'hospital' tote, recovering from some sort of injuries this morning. He has minor injuries to his comb, and something wrong with his right hip or leg. If it were an injured hen, I'd probably just cull her. However, I need this guy in my flock and don't want to lose him. I think I know what I'm doing, but I'd like some input from others more knowledgeable or experienced in this.
This morning when letting the chickens out of their coop, I noticed a couple of hens with blood on their beaks. WTF?!? I found "Colonel Sanders" laying quietly on his side in the coop, eyes closed, as a small group of hens sampled the blood on his comb. Not attacking, just lightly pecking. The flock was calm, as normal. I don't have a clue whether he was attacked by something, or simply hurt himself on the roosts and/or pre-opening-coop activities and the girls thought his comb might be tasty. He's very much alive and alert, just a bit bloody on the comb, and cannot walk or hold his balance while standing. Favors his right leg.
I have 18 older hens, 24 pullets, 1 mature rooster, and 3 younger roos at 30, 26, and 17 weeks. There's been upset in the order; Day before yesterday, from a flock of 65, I culled 5 older hens and removed 14 young cockerels (processed yesterday). So I eliminated about 30% of the population at once. My coop is about 80 sf, and run 200 sf. So far, none of my roos or cockerels are aggressive. Big Goldie keeps order and the youngsters are learning. They tolerate each others' presence.
I cleaned him up, treated his comb with antibiotics and Blu-Kote spray. I gave him a dose of Nutri-Drench. I can't feel anything wrong with his legs or hips, except that he just can't walk. He'll stand, but try to take a step and fall over on his right side. He'll sometimes fall over upside down, then just lay there on his back until I roll him back over. Then he stands. He's eating and drinking. Eyes are bright and clear, comb and wattles bright red, no drainage from nostrils.
This evening he made the most pitiful little cooing noises, I swear it sounded like a child whining. I know he hates being confined - but until he can walk, run, hop onto a roost and fly down, I don't think he should be put back with the flock. I have a large space in the coop where he can be separated from the flock and tended, but it's frigging cold out there and in his condition, I'm not sure the cold temps would interfere with healing.
So if he heals up okay, maybe even by tomorrow, I may put him in the separation area. I don't know. We'll see how it goes.
Any thoughts or advice?
This morning when letting the chickens out of their coop, I noticed a couple of hens with blood on their beaks. WTF?!? I found "Colonel Sanders" laying quietly on his side in the coop, eyes closed, as a small group of hens sampled the blood on his comb. Not attacking, just lightly pecking. The flock was calm, as normal. I don't have a clue whether he was attacked by something, or simply hurt himself on the roosts and/or pre-opening-coop activities and the girls thought his comb might be tasty. He's very much alive and alert, just a bit bloody on the comb, and cannot walk or hold his balance while standing. Favors his right leg.
I have 18 older hens, 24 pullets, 1 mature rooster, and 3 younger roos at 30, 26, and 17 weeks. There's been upset in the order; Day before yesterday, from a flock of 65, I culled 5 older hens and removed 14 young cockerels (processed yesterday). So I eliminated about 30% of the population at once. My coop is about 80 sf, and run 200 sf. So far, none of my roos or cockerels are aggressive. Big Goldie keeps order and the youngsters are learning. They tolerate each others' presence.
I cleaned him up, treated his comb with antibiotics and Blu-Kote spray. I gave him a dose of Nutri-Drench. I can't feel anything wrong with his legs or hips, except that he just can't walk. He'll stand, but try to take a step and fall over on his right side. He'll sometimes fall over upside down, then just lay there on his back until I roll him back over. Then he stands. He's eating and drinking. Eyes are bright and clear, comb and wattles bright red, no drainage from nostrils.
This evening he made the most pitiful little cooing noises, I swear it sounded like a child whining. I know he hates being confined - but until he can walk, run, hop onto a roost and fly down, I don't think he should be put back with the flock. I have a large space in the coop where he can be separated from the flock and tended, but it's frigging cold out there and in his condition, I'm not sure the cold temps would interfere with healing.
So if he heals up okay, maybe even by tomorrow, I may put him in the separation area. I don't know. We'll see how it goes.
Any thoughts or advice?
