Thinking caps please.... and am I a bad mudder? (long) sorry....

[mudderhen]

I have a roo that is approx.10 months old. He is a Jersey Giant, so of course he is big. About 2-3 weeks ago I noticed him limping a little, and at first just watched him, but it continued and seemed to worsen some. I finally took him to see the chicken vet who told me he had what was called perosis or slipped tendon in his left foot. It is like carpal tunnel in humans and is from a B viatmin deficiency. I was asked if I had changed his feed, and I had. While I was sick, I sent my husband to get more feed and he got it from a different feed store than I usually use.
The vet said I should switch back to the original feed and supplement him with B-complex, which I have. The day after the visit to the vet, Lurch was having even more trouble walking and I thought it was from the exam and moving his foot the day before. He sits on his knees and pecks a lot, but tries not to walk if possible.
THEN.... Sunday night when I came home the dogs had gotten in the chicken lot, and thankfully didn't kill anyone, but Lurch couldn't get away very fast and has either bruising or abrasions all down his back. I brought him in and kept him in the house, but Monday morning he seemed worse. I scraped a little aspirin on an apple and he really liked that. He became more alert after the aspirin took effect, and ate eggs with B-complex like a trooper. I have been doing this for three days, and this morning I had to give him a bath because he had poo all over his bottom. At most he sits up, but always on his hiney, i've watched and now he can't even stand at all on his feet. He has been reduced to nothing more than a big blue blob. He seems pretty happy in his clothes basket, as long as he has aspirin on board for the pain. I don't want him to suffer, but I don't want to give up on him either.
Can anyone give me any advise? Has anyone ever had this happen? What was the outcome? Does this just take time? Any thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lollipop]

Well mud, thre are lots of recorded incidents od big heavy breed birds having leg trouble. Some of it has to do with to much protien in their diet and all of it seems to have rapid growth involved. Hard to say if it`s reversable, never dealt with it myself. I would make sure Lurch has a diet of somewhere between 12 and 14 percent protien. Hope someone else can speak to this problem.

 

[ruth]

Add some vitamin/electrolytes to this water; feed him scrambled egg (you can grind up a B12 or B complex vitamin and sprinkle over the egg; also give him some Poly-Vi-Sol (liquid baby vitamins) directly in his beak; you could also give him some black oil sunflower seeds (BOSS). Then just give him some time to heal. I just did this with a huge black orp roo that first limped and then just sort of drug himself around and after a couple of days of rest and the high vitamin diet he's walking just fine.

 

[sammi]

as Ruth posted about the vitamins.

he could have a form a rickets, which makes the bones rubbery..
sometimes happens during growth spurts..and big birds.
make him this mix..

Feed the bird 3 times a day for 5 days this mixture
the amounts are for the 3 feeds for 1 day.

1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
3-4 tablespoons rolled oats, or water cooked oatmeal..add feed to give substance if necessary.

Mix to make a crumble mixture not runny.

also have regular feed and water where he can get it.. as usual.
make sure he gets some sun.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Sounds like you got some good advice so far. I would also keep giving him aspirin. I always do, when my birds are injured.
When they are sitting around like that, it is normal for them to get poo on their bottoms. Just keep cleaning it off. Sometimes I just run the bathwater (nice and warm) and hold the bum under the running water to wash it off. Then towel dry and or blow dry the feathers. Keep him warm, well fed and pampered. Hopefully he'll recover soon.

 

[mudderhen]

Thank you everybody. I thought I was going to lose him this morning, but according to my DH, he seems to be better this afternoon. I will take the advice and try these things. Please keep him in your prayers. I have gotten so attached to this boy. He may not be able to walk, and he may not have hands or aarms, but he sure has wrapped himself around my heart and buried himself inside it. This morning I cried all the way to work, and I felt like I was losing one of my children. I work 24 hrs. at a time, so I won't be able to check on him til tomorrow. My Dh is a paramedic, so I know he is in good hands, but no one can take care of him like I can....(or so I think)
Thanks again to everyone for their help

 

[maymiegirl]

I think it is very important to give him some gentle exercise. Don't let him sit too still for a long time. Also, the B vitamins you are giving him are probably enough for him--I would say this because that is most likely what is giving him the runs. Much of his skeletal makeup is of cartilage so he should heal just fine but be sure to help him to work his legs very gently if you can. It won't hurt him at all to set him in a warm bath a little to allow him to get heated moisture to help keep him loosened up.

All birds absorb vital things through their skin. I'm not 100% sure about all the benefits there but I have found it really helpful to keep red palm oil on hand. They love it in their food and it is GREAT for rubbing them down when they are sick OR laid up with an injury. It seems any time they are going through a stressed time, their skin becomes dry and flaky and it is supposed to be supple and fatty-feeling. I take surgical gloves or my bare hands and massage a bit of red palm oil into their skin. They find it very relaxing. It also provides for gorgeous feathers the next morning.

It contains xanthiones and major sources of vitamins beneficial to fowl. I buy mine on ebay for a really super deal.

 

[Cetawin]

Do a search for "Zane"...Speckledhen's BR roo injured his hock and got an infection and she has been through the mill with that boy. She has some great insight and advice.

You could also send her a PM and direct her to this post...she will give you her thoughts and such.