Rooster with injured leg-Help!

[GoldenCometKeeper]

My nearly 8 month old rooster is limping and dragging one leg behind him.

He is acting fine other than being off balance and is (surprisingly) hard to catch because he still runs like a bat out of hell. Seems to be resting more or laying down when he loses his balance, not running towards me as soon as I open the gate, but is still watching over the flock and acting like his normal rooster self.

Managed to catch him and there seems to be no bones out of place, but that leg is slightly swollen on the top of the foot, and it doesn't bend or extend like the other one. I'm not sure how a rooster would act if he was in pain while I did move the hurt leg around, but he did not make any noises or jerky movements, just let me do my thing.

Not sure what to do. I am guessing the injury was caused by maybe landing wrong when jumping off the roost, and right where their leg bends (the hock?) seems to be where the injury is.

Can a chicken get a sprained ankle? Do I make a splint? How do I keep him from hurting himself further? Need advice on what to do.

 

[Laodicia]

My nearly 8 month old rooster is limping and dragging one leg behind him.

He is acting fine other than being off balance and is (surprisingly) hard to catch because he still runs like a bat out of hell. Seems to be resting more or laying down when he loses his balance, not running towards me as soon as I open the gate, but is still watching over the flock and acting like his normal rooster self.

Managed to catch him and there seems to be no bones out of place, but that leg is slightly swollen on the top of the foot, and it doesn't bend or extend like the other one. I'm not sure how a rooster would act if he was in pain while I did move the hurt leg around, but he did not make any noises or jerky movements, just let me do my thing.

Not sure what to do. I am guessing the injury was caused by maybe landing wrong when jumping off the roost, and right where their leg bends (the hock?) seems to be where the injury is.

Can a chicken get a sprained ankle? Do I make a splint? How do I keep him from hurting himself further? Need advice on what to do.

the reaction I usually get with hurt roos is they get really quiet and still and wait for it to be over, as long as they feel they aren't going to be able to get away. If he's still able to get around without looking like he's in pain then I would make sure it isn't infected and leave him... but that's me. maybe lower the roost if you can.

 

[GoldenCometKeeper]

When I took him back to his hens he was very ready to get back to them. He hobbles around but doesn't seem to act like it bothers him. There are no visible cuts or bleeding. Hopefully it heals by itself, I am definitely going to be watching him more closely the next few days.
When the weather stops being 15 degrees (torture for a Louisiana girl ) I'll go in and see what I can do about their roost.

 

[Eggcessive]

While a sprain is most common, and can take several weeks to heal, bacterial or viral arthritis can be sometimes a cause for swelling. If you can get a couple of clear close-up pictures of his leg, it might help. Rule out bumblefoot by looking for a scab on his foot pad or swelling between toes. Look for swelling up the leg in the joints and any bruising on the leg. Dragging a leg can sometimes be a sign of Mareks disease which can cause paralysis of one or both legs or wings. An injury would be more common. Do you have another rooster who may be chasing him?

 

[GoldenCometKeeper]

He is the only rooster. There's no scab, and the foot pad looks fine. Just swelling like it is inflammation from an injury. I've been researching bumblefoot and it doesn't seem to be that.

The only swelling seems to be right on the very top of his foot and a little up his leg, no redness. The joint is stiff and won't bend like his other foot. No bruising, it looks like his other leg. He will drag it while he runs, but will stand on it and walk, but limps a lot.

 

[aart]

If limp is really bothering them by inhibiting their normal activities too much, I will isolate them in a crate to 'force' rest for a day or two. Letting them out late in day, an hour before roost time, to give them a stretch and evaluate their mobility, then decide if they need another day and put them back in crate off roost after dark. Repeat stretch and eval the next day until they are better. Keep crate in coop so bird can remain 'with' the flock.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can also use a wire dog crate inside the coop to keep him resting the leg, but put it where he can see his flock, and include food and water. A vitamin mineral tonic such as Poultry Cell or NutriDrench 3 ml daily, or 1/2 tablet of BComplex would be helpful. Let us know how he gets along.

 

[GoldenCometKeeper]

Thanks guys, I'm looking into the vitamin mineral tonics, don't know if many stores will be open tomorrow. Am trying to keep him resting, until I get a crate to isolate his big butt I have a "nest" of sorts made out of hay to keep him close by his girls but much lower than the roost. Hoping he cooperates and stays warm throughout the night. It's their first winter, and they usually huddle as close together as possible.

The BYC community is probably my favorite group of people on the internet.

 

[GoldenCometKeeper]

First two are injured foot/leg, last is other foot.

There's now a reddish line up the injured leg on the left side. Not sure what to do. He won't walk now. Can't stand up, no balance, etc..wings are still working though, he's using them to balance himself more so now than before.
He's eating though, I put a small container of food down by him and some water. He still has his appetite. The hens were let out and I kept him in the coop, they can still see him and they come and visit him and look over him. Hoping that keeps integration issues at bay.

 

[aart]

Hmmm...red streaks could mean infection....or the normal red streaks males often have in their feet and legs.
I might suggest frostbite but have no idea where you are located.
Green indicates bruising in birds, so could just be a bruise.
Has the swelling increased or color changed since first discovered?
It can take a long time for a 'sprain' to heal up,
he could need a week or two of 'rest' before his mobility improves.