Rooster to lose both legs: Quality of Life?

[Isadora]

I think I already knew what I need to do, I just needed to hear it from other people... I had to cull one hen already due to health issues and a skin infection. This one is a bit harder because this injured roo is the brother of my big, beautiful brahma rooster who is so healthy and full of life. It's so sad to see what improper care caused when I know he could of ended up like his brother in better conditions and care. And he is so sweet, it just makes it so much harder

You can comfort yourself with the fact that it's the right thing to do and actually kinder to the bird.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

There is NO reason to euthanize your rooster if you love and want to keep him, as long as you are able to provide him a little extra care. And it does sound like you are willing. He can and Will absolutely recover and regain the ability to participate in and enjoy normal chicken behaviors. There are threads here on byc where birds have done so, & there are also videos on the internet. He is no longer perfect, but if you feel his life has value, then he is still good enough.

Gimme a minute, I'm going to provide you with links and videos of birds that lost their feet to frostbite, yet recovered not just to survive, but to thrive. Not only chickens, but parrots, hawks, etc. I understand that not everyone would put forth the extra time and care to help a handicapped bird carry on, but since you are willing, I assure you that your little rooster is able.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

There is NO reason to euthanize your rooster if you love and want to keep him, as long as you are able to provide him a little extra care. And it does sound like you are willing. He can and Will absolutely recover and regain the ability to participate in and enjoy normal chicken behaviors. There are threads here on byc where birds have done so, & there are also videos on the internet. He is no longer perfect, but if you feel his life has value, then he is still good enough.

Gimme a minute, I'm going to provide you with links and videos of birds that lost their feet to frostbite, yet recovered not just to survive, but to thrive. Not only chickens, but parrots, hawks, etc. I understand that not everyone would put forth the extra time and care to help a handicapped bird carry on, but since you are willing, I assure you that your little rooster is able.

We're not talking about feet though-we are talking about two whole legs? Waiting for links.

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

oh gosh this is the saddest thing I've ever read here I am so sorry that these birds aren't getting quality care and were left to be so damaged. Thank you for caring for the sweet guy. Is there a way you could rig up a sling with wheels? Not ideal but it would at least get him off the ground and he could maybe pull himself along with his beak? No idea I just hope he's okay. Must have been so painful.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

We're not talking about feet though-we are talking about two whole legs? Waiting for links.

True, & maybe pictures would cause me to reconsider. However, once a bird loses their feet , it relearns to walk on its remaining (cushioned and wrapped) shanks anyway. It's taking me time to hunt down the videos and threads i intend to post, but I'm in the process of doing so.

Meanwhile, I will go first. I have a hen that lost both feet to frostbite 2 years ago. She will soon turn 7 years old. She now spends most days outside with other chickens. She isn't as mobile as she was before she lost her feet, but I am certain she enjoys her life and still wants to be here. Here is her thread which follows her journey to healing and recovery.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

True, & maybe pictures would cause me to reconsider. However, once a bird loses their feet , it relearns to walk on its remaining (cushioned and wrapped) shanks anyway. It's taking me time to hunt down the videos and threads i intend to post, but I'm in the process of doing so.

Meanwhile, I will go first. I have a hen that lost both feet to frostbite 2 years ago. She will soon turn 7 years old. She now spends most days outside with other chickens. She isn't as mobile as she was before she lost her feet, but I am certain she enjoys her life and still wants to be here. Here is her thread which follows her journey to healing and recovery.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/matilda-is-going-to-lose-her-feet.1454933/

I agree-pictures of this rooster would be useful. It sounds like from the description he might have a couple nubbins left

 

[BrahmaMama9]

I agree-pictures of this rooster would be useful. It sounds like from the description he might have a couple nubbins left

I'm sorry, I don't have any pictures. I'll have to take some tomorrow in order to show people.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

This thread follows a chicken who has also recovered to live a quality chicken life.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...nt-her-to-lose-her-leg.1513145/#post-25456540

As does this thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/frostbite-lost-both-feet-my-hens-story.1343701/

Here are some videos off the internet. I'm sending you rooster videos since I think you may appreciate them the most.

First off, Bart the rooster.
http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/barth

Foghorn the rooster

There are also ducks, peacocks and wild birds of various species on the internet that lost their feet, but who's lives were spared.

Again, this is a personal choice that not everyone will make. Know that if you choose to save your rooster, it's not about keeping a helpless, depressed, invalid bird alive for selfish reasons. It's about helping him continue to live a quality life despite his misfortune.

I reacted Very sadly and strongly to those who advised you to euthanize him for the following reason. My very first chickens came carrying the respiratory disease MG. I didn't know what I was dealing with at the time, but everything I read said that birds with respiratory diseases should be culled, since they cant be cured. So I began to "cull" my sweet hens, even though it tore off pieces of my heart to do so. Finally I sent a "culled" carcass to my state lab for necropsy. After learning the results, I found a medication that keeps MG symptoms at bay. Eight years later, I'm still sad to remember the sweet, friendly hens I needlessly euthanized. It did no harm to keep the remaining hens symptom-free and healthy while they lived out their happy chicken lives. If you decide to keep your rooster, though his life has changed, you can still ensure that it is Good.

 

[Tankueray]

OMG this breaks my heart. I have a rooster that had part of his foot amputated and shortly afterward more died off, and his other leg is immobile. I've been wracking my brain for months to come up with a prosthesis for him with no luck.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-with-no-legs.852723/
http://www.poultrydvm.com/cases/barth
The links above are of stories similar to your own with positive outcomes.

The nerd in me has to overthink this now though....

See if one of your local middle/high schools has a robotics club. The first thing I thought of was a walk around thing like toddlers have, powered by RC motors and a peck-able control board to determine the direction. It should be pretty easy to build, it just needs to be small enough. Chickens are definitely smart enough to learn how to direct their own wheelchair. He'd only be able to go around on solid floors, but I could totally see a rooster tearing it up like a tiny human.

This was the second thing I thought of:

Please seek assistance for your friend with one of the local rescue societies or area resource on aging, if appropriate. I've got to assume this happened because she wasn't able to put up a shelter herself, otherwise I won't be able to sleep tonight.

 

[tripletfeb]

There is NO reason to euthanize your rooster if you love and want to keep him, as long as you are able to provide him a little extra care. And it does sound like you are willing. He can and Will absolutely recover and regain the ability to participate in and enjoy normal chicken behaviors. There are threads here on byc where birds have done so, & there are also videos on the internet. He is no longer perfect, but if you feel his life has value, then he is still good enough.

Gimme a minute, I'm going to provide you with links and videos of birds that lost their feet to frostbite, yet recovered not just to survive, but to thrive. Not only chickens, but parrots, hawks, etc. I understand that not everyone would put forth the extra time and care to help a handicapped bird carry on, but since you are willing, I assure you that your little rooster is able.

This rooster has no legs. Or will have no legs after the second one falls off. There is no reason to give the OP false hope in the chicken living a good life. It's an unfortunate incident that needs common sense to solve properly. That common sense is humanely culling this rooster and hopefully teaching the owner(not the OP) how to properly care for chickens