Rooster with limp toes

[Mooshoe]

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. I have a 6 month old rooster that has had limp toes for about a month now.

He went to bed in the coop one night and was just fine but the next morning he was in the run with one foot raised in the air, limping, and his toes appeared to be completely limp, not swollen, not discolored. His two outside toes would bend sideways and backwards if he tried walking or he would walk on one 3 toes curled up into a ball.

We brought him inside and placed him into a small playpen on a soft padded blanket. We used gauze and cardboard to make him a split while we waited for vet wrap and a real splint to come in the mail.

I've been giving him extra vitamins and crushed up b complex in his food. I think what we have is called poultry cell, poultry booster, and this nutrientional yeast stuff that a youtuber recommended for paralyzed feet due to vitamin deficiency. Plus vitamins and electrolytes in his water.

He seems to improve but then declines. I've even seen him moving his toes at times.

I dont see any signed of mareks with him or any other chicken. But I'm new to chickens so I really dont know. I also do not see any signs of bumble foot. We've given him two foot soaks with epsom salt which he liked but didnt seem to help.

He has started doing something weird with his head as of today. I added the video of it to the end of the video linked below. I'm so scared for my baby boy.

His name is Cognac. I feel awful for the little guy. He is so sweet and let's us wrap him every day. He is a fighter and behaves so well.

I have a link to a youtube video I made to show what it looks like. Any advice or help would be appreciated! Thank you!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. I have a 6 month old rooster that has had limp toes for about a month now.

He went to bed in the coop one night and was just fine but the next morning he was in the run with one foot raised in the air, limping, and his toes appeared to be completely limp, not swollen, not discolored. His two outside toes would bend sideways and backwards if he tried walking or he would walk on one 3 toes curled up into a ball.

We brought him inside and placed him into a small playpen on a soft padded blanket. We used gauze and cardboard to make him a split while we waited for vet wrap and a real splint to come in the mail.

I've been giving him extra vitamins and crushed up b complex in his food. I think what we have is called poultry cell and this yeast stuff that a youtuber recommended for paralyzed feet due to vitamin deficiency. Plus vitamins and electrolytes in his water.

He seems to improve but then declines. I've even seen him moving his toes at times.

I dont see any signed of mareks with him or any other chicken. But I'm new to chickens so I really dont know. I also do not see any signs of bumble foot. We've given him two foot soaks with epsom salt which he liked but didnt seem to help.

He has started doing something weird with his head as of today. I added the video of it to the end of the video linked below. I'm so scared for my baby boy.

His name is Cognac. I feel awful for the little guy. He is so sweet and let's us wrap him every day. He is a fighter and behaves so well.

I have a link to a youtube video I made to show what it looks like. Any advice or help would be appreciated! Thank you!

He needs b2 supplement.

 

[Mooshoe]

He needs b2 supplement.

Thank you!! I'm giving crushed up b complex in his food, poultry cell and poultry booster, and nutritional yeast. Is there anything else I can give him or a way to ensure he gets the right amount?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you!! I'm giving crushed up b complex in his food, poultry cell and poultry booster, and nutritional yeast. Is there anything else I can give him or a way to ensure he gets the right amount?

I use 400mg B2 Capsules, & give whole dose 2-3 times daily to birds who get B2 Deficiency.

 

[Mooshoe]

I use 400mg B2 Capsules, & give whole dose 2-3 times daily to birds who get B2 Deficiency.

Thank you so much! I will get b2 capsules right away. Just to confirm, you give one 400mg capsule 2-3 times a day? How long do you do this? Should I treat the rest of my flock?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Thank you for providing a video. Poor Cognac. I can't tell if it's a toe issue or a leg injury that's making him reluctant to put weight on it. I agree with Mystery Chicken on the B2, which I used with a curled toe chick along with toe wrappings. The weird head movement at the end of the video would make me upgrade to B-Complex (that has a good amount of B2) with a Vitamin E soft gel for a full neurological treatment.

He's a big boy, so you can just gently pull down his wattles and pop one at a time in his mouth. He'll swallow on his own.

You'll probably hear from a couple more people before the day's over. The Educators are really good about sweeping through the medical posts.

Hope he feels better soon!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thank you so much! I will get b2 capsules right away. Just to confirm, you give one 400mg capsule 2-3 times a day? How long do you do this? Should I treat the rest of my flock?

Depending on how severe the deficiency is, it can take anywhere between a few weeks, to a month, or two to cure.

Yep, 2-3 times a day.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

have a 6 month old rooster that has had limp toes for about a month now.

I've been giving him extra vitamins and crushed up b complex in his food. I think what we have is called poultry cell, poultry booster, and this nutrientional yeast stuff

He has started doing something weird with his head as of today.

Thank you!! I'm giving crushed up b complex in his food, poultry cell and poultry booster, and nutritional yeast. Is there anything else I can give him or a way to ensure he gets the right amount?

Please, post photos of his feet unwrapped. Clear, well-lit photos of the top and bottom of his feet.
Thank you!

You are giving B-Complex, Poultry Cell, Poultry Booster AND Nutritional Yeast. He should be getting PLENTY of vitamins including B2(Riboflavin).

What do you feed, including treats? I would stick with Chick Starter or an All Flock Feed that is 18-22% protein. Feed this all their lives, just provide Oyster shell free choice for laying pullets and hens.
Cut out the scratch type feeds and treats for at least a month and focus on them eating the feed. If you feel you must give a treat, then offer a little scrambled egg or fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel) a couple of times a week.

Your cockerel is shaking his head, please make sure your birds have access to Grit (Crushed Granite) free choice so they can properly process their foods and check his crop to make sure its emptying overnight.

It may be that you have something else going on in your flock besides a **possible** nutritional issue. You had another bird limping a couple of months back and it was suggested to give B-Complex.
Since you now have another with limping issues, see if there's anything in their environment that they may be injuring their feet on, if not, fix their feed (nutrition) and if they still have issues, then you may have to consider that the problem is something like Marek's, but without losing a bird and having testing done, there is NO way to truly know.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-limping-and-holding-foot-up.1681493/

 

[Mooshoe]

Thank you for providing a video. Poor Cognac. I can't tell if it's a toe issue or a leg injury that's making him reluctant to put weight on it. I agree with Mystery Chicken on the B2, which I used with a curled toe chick along with toe wrappings. The weird head movement at the end of the video would make me upgrade to B-Complex (that has a good amount of B2) with a Vitamin E soft gel for a full neurological treatment.

He's a big boy, so you can just gently pull down his wattles and pop one at a time in his mouth. He'll swallow on his own.

You'll probably hear from a couple more people before the day's over. The Educators are really good about sweeping through the medical posts.

Hope he feels better soon!

Thank you so much!

Depending on how severe the deficiency is, it can take anywhere between a few weeks, to a month, or two to cure.

Yep, 2-3 times a day.

Thank you so much!

Please, post photos of his feet unwrapped. Clear, well-lit photos of the top and bottom of his feet.
Thank you!

You are giving B-Complex, Poultry Cell, Poultry Booster AND Nutritional Yeast. He should be getting PLENTY of vitamins including B2(Riboflavin).

What do you feed, including treats? I would stick with Chick Starter or an All Flock Feed that is 18-22% protein. Feed this all their lives, just provide Oyster shell free choice for laying pullets and hens.
Cut out the scratch type feeds and treats for at least a month and focus on them eating the feed. If you feel you must give a treat, then offer a little scrambled egg or fish (sardines, tuna, mackerel) a couple of times a week.

Your cockerel is shaking his head, please make sure your birds have access to Grit (Crushed Granite) free choice so they can properly process their foods and check his crop to make sure its emptying overnight.

It may be that you have something else going on in your flock besides a **possible** nutritional issue. You had another bird limping a couple of months back and it was suggested to give B-Complex.
Since you now have another with limping issues, see if there's anything in their environment that they may be injuring their feet on, if not, fix their feed (nutrition) and if they still have issues, then you may have to consider that the problem is something like Marek's, but without losing a bird and having testing done, there is NO way to truly know.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chicken-limping-and-holding-foot-up.1681493/

Thank you so much! I will get photos of him in the morning when I rewrap his foot.