Rooster mysterious injury

[cinjoel]

One of our roosters, Latte, went form one day fine and the next day unable to use his right leg. This is me holding him. Once I let go of him, he falls down. These pictures are to show you his feet. They seem fine, right? We are keeping him separate from the flock (11 hens and 1 rooster) since last Sunday. He eats and drinks, makes all the rooster coo-ing noises and even makes an effort to stand when the hens come back into the coop for the evening. Anyone ever had this happen and if so what should we do?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings cinjoel,

Welcome to BYC!

At this point you can look at injury as the cause for his inability to walk.

But, keep in mind there are other conditions that can cause paralysis.

Have you looked under his feet? Check for any sores, scabs, swelling.

If you don't find anything under the feet, you will have to run your index finger and thumb along his leg, starting at the ankle and working upward. Stop at each joint and give a gentle squeeze to see if he reacts with pain. He may hike his leg or flinch. Check all the way up to the thigh and hip joint.
Check the thigh muscles for any swelling.
Be gentle, you are trying to locate any hidden injury in the leg.

He may have a hair line break in the bone, strained/pulled leg muscles, or damaged tendon. Roosters can injure their legs when jumping off perches or other high objects.

If the injury is not a break (get back to us if you think it is broken), then, therapy is: rest the muscle, very gentle massage with a healing cream. I like to use "The Rub Arnica" cream, purchased at any health food store. Leg soaks in warm Epsom Salt bath are helpful too. In a day or so, some mild exercise of the leg muscles. Take him outside to walk around for a while.

Recent posters with similar problems have used a chicken sling to take pressure off the leg. The sling will help you provide the therapy the rooster needs.
Here are some pictures.

Happy Thanksgiving!

God Bless, hope this is helpful.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How old is he? How is the leg placed when he's sitting? Mareks always comes to mind with leg problems. They generally present with the leg straight out in front.

Last year I had a rooster who fell behind a board an hurt his leg. Couldn't use it for months before he started to use it again. Give him time and see how he does.

 

[cinjoel]

Thanks all. I’ve ordered the arnica cream. I don’t feel anything broken and when I felt his leg he flinched a little on his ankle. Last two days he has gotten up on it and stands for about one minute then back on the ground. It’s like he is telling us “don’t give up on me” when he is on the ground his leg is out behind him, not in front so perhaps Mareks is off the table. Will keep you all posted. I’m thinking even if he makes a full recovery we may need to find him his own hens...other rooster, Mocha, has claimed our current flock as his own.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Good for you cinjoel!

Don't give up on your little guy...he has nobody else to help him. Keep him well fed, besides his normal feed, provide lots of kale, broccoli, turkey (if it's not against your ethics), cod & tuna. These foods are high in B vitamins, which will help reduce inflammation in the legs. If its cold at night, even some fresh raw corn is good for healing.

Apply the Arnica when it comes, twice daily. Till then, you can also soak his legs in a warm Epsom Salt bath for at least 5 minutes, towel dry, and maybe blow dry any wet feathers if it is cold where you live.

Yes, he will eventually need his own flock too. Don't worry about Marek's now. You can cross that bridge, if you ever get to it.

God Bless and peace to you!

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x oldhenlikesdogs - How old is he? Depending on his age, vitamin deficiency could be another possibility. It won't hurt to give him some Vitamin B Complex or frauds high in Riboflavin (B12). The sling Hen Pen Jem shows is a great idea to keep him upright.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

It sounds like he's experiencing pain and that's why he can't stand on the leg for more than a minute. But great news that you're seeing some effort from him so soon!

@Hen Pen Jem recommended The Arnica Rub for my rooster, too. At first I couldn't find it locally and bought an arnica gel. The one she recommends is a cream; much easier to apply, and boy does it work. I'm the test subject with back pain. It helps heal and also provides pain relief.

Have you done any epsom salt baths yet? They're amazing. Significant relief and healing. It's easiest to do a bath, versus trying to soak just the one leg.

 

[Eggcessive]

Riboflavin is vitamin B 2, and yes, with any leg problems, it can be good to use B complex vitamins or a chicken poultry vitamin (but not NutriDrench as it does not have riboflavin.) I agree with treating for a possible spain or injury, resting the leg, and if symptoms worsen or change, think about Mareks. Mareks can present with imbalance, numbness or curled under toes, and may affect one or both wings or legs. Twisted or limp neck is another sign of Mareks. At one point, most of us will see a sprain from too high of roosts, or from losts of activity. Bumblefoot is a problem that needs to be looked for, and there can be bacterial joint infections that may cause swollen joints.

 

[microchick]

Marek's disease can present with one leg being drug behind the chicken. They can also rest with the leg extended behind them. I've seen it in chickens in my flock that are positive for Marek's.

Watch for progression. If the leg seems to be getting weaker rather than better, I would suspect Marek's disease. Paralysis can even spontaneously improve or disappear in Marek's only to gave it reappear later in the form of tumors in the organs.

I'm not saying 100% that is what it is, but like @Eggcessive suggested, it is something to be kept in the back of your mind.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I stand corrected, checked my notes (thank goodness for notes) it's B2 not B12

@Eggcessive - Is there an ailment for B12 deficiency, I'm making a list of ailments & remedies, alot to remember & probably too many to list?