Rooster with a Broken Hip

[herbalmother]

I have an 8 month Cuckoo Marans rooster who has had a really rough winter. I'm assuming he got pushed off the roost in the coop on 1/20 because he was fine earlier in the day and the next day he was limping and not putting pressure on his left leg. We brought him in, I checked him out for sickness, felt him and couldn't feel a break and he wasn't sick at all. Just acting his usual self but not standing on his left foot. I assumed it was just a sprain and since he was hopping around fine, I thought it just needed time to heal.

I put him back out with the girls, I don't have many and didn't think I needed to separate long term. The whole flock is 8 months and it's my first time owning chickens. I've since read I should have separated from the start but he was fine out there. Every day he would hop around for food and water until my partner went out 1/26 and Cornelius (rooster) wasn't getting up for food and water like he had the day and night before. So my partner picked him up and brought him in where I discovered his feet had frozen throughout the day. Not terribly, they weren't black or anything but clearly frozen and frost bitten so I immediately put them in lukewarm water to gently thaw them.

That was a success, they're a little blistered but his good foot is doing great, the other looks fine even though he's not using it. We have him crated inside now while his feet heal so I've been spending a lot of time looking at him. Well last night I noticed how off the whole leg looks, the way the foot sits is so different than the other. So I felt him up again, couldn't feel a break. I then spent some time reading about how to identify a break vs. sprain and put a sock over his head, flipped him and got a better feel than before. I can feel the break beneath the skin, it's up high so I've been calling it his hip even though I'm not sure if that terminology is accurate.

I'm just not sure what the best course of action is. He's my favorite chicken, I really love the guy like a pet but I can't afford a big vet bill and the soonest a vet can see him is Saturday, I've called around. I don't know if he's in pain anymore since it's clearly been broken for over a week but I don't want him to be in pain. I also don't think I have what it takes to cull him, he's seriously my favorite. I'd have to find someone else to do it. At this point it has probably started healing, is it cruel to leave it if he's able to walk on the one leg? My head says probably but I'm honestly emotional over this.

I never thought I'd see a serious injury like this, I only prepared myself for sickness and stuff. Feeling like a bad chicken mom. Any advice on pain management, healing, culling, what to do? What would you do?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Because I wouldn't be able to afford taking a chicken to the vet for something like that, let alone meds for pain and to keep them calm enough not to re-injure, I'd have to cull. From there, I guess it depends on how your heart goes. You can either eat him yourself, give him to somebody else to consume, or completely like a pet and bury him. ::shrug:: its up to you.

 

[chickens really]

Hello..If it is broken? We all have to make the decision to Cull if the quality of life is not there.
I personally Cull all Birds that I think are suffering. That will have to be your choice..
Best wishes..

 

[BantyChooks]

I have never had luck with breaks up in the 'hip' area. You could research splinting and slings, but it might be wise to start preparing yourself for a sad end. I understand not being able to afford veterinary care.

You're the only one that can judge if his pain is worth the possibility of recovery. For me, the bird I had with a total break up there fought gamely, but it wasn't enough and her eyes told me she was ready to go. So I let her.

https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

A last ditch effort that someone recommended to me and I tried was taping the whole leg to the body in a position where the break ends would meet. Unfortunately, it didn't work, but it might for you. I used bandaging tape.

Personally, I would likely cull now, but that is never a decision anyone else can make for you. Not being able to move well and having no hope of regaining that movement is definitely grounds for euthanasia.

 

[herbalmother]

I just honestly don't know if he's suffering. He's calm but talkative like usual, and gets around on the one foot. I can't afford a vet visit right now either but what if I'm wrong and it's not a break and I culled him when it could just heal? I wouldn't be able to eat him, we'd likely bury him. I suppose I'm just going to take some time to think about it. I honestly wish it had been one of the mean girls. Ugh. Why my boy?! Any tips for culling without removing his head? I've read about using car starter fluid on a cloth but don't know if that's humane. I don't want to hurt him or cause more pain than he might be in. I took 8 chickens to be culled over the summer but I've never done it myself.

 

[herbalmother]

I have never had luck with breaks up in the 'hip' area. You could research splinting and slings, but it might be wise to start preparing yourself for a sad end. I understand not being able to afford veterinary care.

You're the only one that can judge if his pain is worth the possibility of recovery. For me, the bird I had with a total break up there fought gamely, but it wasn't enough and her eyes told me she was ready to go. So I let her.

https://theiwrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Duerr_Splinting_Manual_2010.pdf

A last ditch effort that someone recommended to me and I tried was taping the whole leg to the body in a position where the break ends would meet. Unfortunately, it didn't work, but it might for you. I used bandaging tape.

Personally, I would likely cull now, but that is never a decision anyone else can make for you.

Thank you for that manual!! I'll give it a read and see if it might be worth trying.

 

[BantyChooks]

I just honestly don't know if he's suffering. He's calm but talkative like usual, and gets around on the one foot. I can't afford a vet visit right now either but what if I'm wrong and it's not a break and I culled him when it could just heal? I wouldn't be able to eat him, we'd likely bury him. I suppose I'm just going to take some time to think about it. I honestly wish it had been one of the mean girls. Ugh. Why my boy?! Any tips for culling without removing his head? I've read about using car starter fluid on a cloth but don't know if that's humane. I don't want to hurt him or cause more pain than he might be in. I took 8 chickens to be culled over the summer but I've never done it myself.

Birds are pretty tough to read sometimes. Good luck with deciding. I agree that time to think is a good idea.

May I ask, why without removing the head? I think that decapitation is the most humane method for large roosters. The ether can work on adult birds. I don't think I'd use it on anything larger than a chick though.

 

[BantyChooks]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/euthanasia-information.1195265/#post-18905291
A brilliant read on humane euthanasia, in case you end up deciding it's time. I use non ratcheting pipe cutters on roosters, can't miss and it's quick.

 

[herbalmother]

Birds are pretty tough to read sometimes. Good luck with deciding. I agree that time to think is a good idea.

May I ask, why without removing the head? I think that decapitation is the most humane method for large roosters. The ether can work. I don't think I'd use it on anything larger than a chick though.

Probably silly, he just feels like a pet so decapitation just feels wrong. Maybe just because I haven't done it before. I'll definitely do it if it's the most humane way. The whole thing just has me sad.

 

[BantyChooks]

Probably silly, he just feels like a pet so decapitation just feels wrong. Maybe just because I haven't done it before. I'll definitely do it if it's the most humane way. The whole thing just has me sad.

I hear you. I use cervical dislocation on hens and young/bantam cockerels, but you'd have to be a strongman to do it on a full grown male. Broomstick method, maybe? I can't vouch for it personally but there's a bunch who can. It's basically cervical dislocation with an extra force point.

I have had to deal with euthanasia of much loved pet birds, and I had my neighbours shoot them. Easier on me that way, but the bird still dies instantly. I'm so sorry you're having to make these decisions. We're here for you!