Rooster lost spur and is now not eating or drinking!!

[Llyons053]

When my boyfriend went to lock the birds up last night, he saw blood all over the run and found our rooster sitting (not roosting) in the coop with a missing spur. We also have free range roosters so our guess is they were fighting through the run fencing and his spur got stuck and pulled off.

We isolated him in a make shift dog crate with a heat lamp in our garage (it went down to single digits last night) and wrapped his leg and spur. We were hesitant to attempt to clean it because he’s known to be a nasty little thing but I think I’ll put some ointment on it today when I have somebody to help keep him still. I put some fresh food and water in the crate with him and all he’s done is stand up. He’s not vocal or trying to pace but I notice he does watch me when I’m moving around the garage.

If he won’t eat or drink I can’t give him poultry vitamins and I’m worried he lost too much blood to recover on his own. We don’t have any vets to take him to around here so I’m not sure what else to do for him. Anybody been in a similar situation and have any advice? I really want him to get better.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I have had several roosters over the years to have this happen with no ill effects.

 

[horror_trashcan]

If he is not eating or drinking at all you may need to syringe feed him, check for any odd odors when cleaning the wound as well.

 

[Llyons053]

I have had several roosters over the years to have this happen with no ill effects.

You mean they lost a spur and were fine?

 

[Llyons053]

If he is not eating or drinking at all you may need to syringe feed him, check for any odd odors when cleaning the wound as well.

I thought about that but unfortunately I would have to wait until I have another set of hands. I’ve syringe fed a sick baby pigeon but never a chicken..I’m guessing it’s the same risk for aspiration?

 

[sniper338]

You can take pliers and twist and pull off the spurs to manage them. I highly doubt that's your issue..

 

[FrostRanger]

I don't think the spur breaking off is the issue, quicking an animal produces a surprising amount of blood, but it's not life threatening

Either the incident scared him enough to send him into shock or his pride was wounded during that fence fight (losing a fight can cause a rooster to become depressed, they are very proud creatures)

It's also possible something else entirely is going on and him only going downhill after the incident is a coincidence. Either way, I would do a full health check and post some pictures of him

 

[Perris]

Anybody been in a similar situation and have any advice? I really want him to get better.

see
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rescued-chickens-thread.1502267/post-28298686
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rescued-chickens-thread.1502267/post-28298756 and
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rescued-chickens-thread.1502267/post-28317017
for a recent comparative case of complete spur loss and lots of blood, and it healed up fine on its own.

If he is in shock and feeling vulnerable, which he might well be in the circumstances, you want to not stress him further. Just make good real food and clean water available where you have him temporarily contained, as a less stressful option than handling and force feeding him. And I'd let him back with his flock as soon as you can.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

found our rooster sitting (not roosting) in the coop with a missing spur. We also have free range roosters so our guess is they were fighting through the run fencing and his spur got stuck and pulled off.

wrapped his leg and spur. We were hesitant to attempt to clean it because he’s known to be a nasty little thing but I think I’ll put some ointment on it today when I have somebody to help keep him still.

I put some fresh food and water in the crate with him and all he’s done is stand up. He’s not vocal or trying to pace but I notice he does watch me when I’m moving around the garage.

If he won’t eat or drink I can’t give him poultry vitamins and I’m worried he lost too much blood to recover on his own.

Please post clear, well-lit photos of the whole rooster, the broken spur, both feet, top and bottom of feet please.

To treat a bird that is not all that nice, wrap/swaddle in a towel or piece of cloth, capturing the wings. Cover the head. Make sure he's not swaddled too tight and can breathe very well.

 

[Llyons053]

Update!
I haven’t gotten around to trying to do a full check and pictures because I’m doing my best not to stress him out too much. He’s still not eating but it does seem like he’s drinking a bit.

I thought he seemed a bit brighter today and his broken spur showed no sign of infection. I tried to put him back in with his girls to pep him up but when I stepped back his own girls started pecking at him. I was waiting for him to show some kind of dominance or even try to mount one of them but he just stood there. I ended up going to grab him and he ran in the coop and hid in the corner so I just put him back in isolation.

This is not normal behavior for him AT ALL so I am probably going to bring him inside tonight so that I can really check him and keep an eye on him. Hopefully he is just depressed and will feel better soon so I can put him back in the run.