Toes Lifting Upward and Trouble Walking

[DawnLee]

Anyone see a chicken with their toes lifting upward and having trouble walking? My 11 week old cockerel started this a few days ago. He is hardly eating or drinking.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you get a photo of all of him?

What is he eating, including treats?

How old is he? I'd start him on 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily.

Any signs of injury, a tiny cut, etc. on the bottom of the toes/feet?

 

[DawnLee]

Can you get a photo of all of him?

What is he eating, including treats?

How old is he? I'd start him on 1/4 tablet B-Complex daily.

Any signs of injury, a tiny cut, etc. on the bottom of the toes/feet?

He is 11 weeks old. I did take him to the vet who stated that he was not an expert. He didn't know what was wrong with him. I asked if he could get a shot of vitamins. He said yes and that he would give him an antibiotic. I didn't know until after I got the breakdown of the bill that he gave him Enrofloxacin (Baytril). I know that there is life-time egg withdrawal with layers that get this. Do you happen to know if this rooster makes it, and he is with layers, will their eggs be affected?

The cockerel is still having a hard time standing. I am thinking it is Mycoplasma Synoviae. He seems to have painful legs that is why he can't stand very well.

I recently moved him outside and think the stress triggered it.

 

[LaFleche]

I know that there is life-time egg withdrawal with layers that get this. Do you happen to know if this rooster makes it, and he is with layers, will their eggs be affected?

In layers the Enrofloxacin/Baytril will accumulate in the ovaries and a tiny amount might be passed onto the ova.

But as the males do not have ovaries there is nothing to worry about cockerels/roosters passing any residues on when mating.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is your cockerel on a brand name balanced chick starter grower feed? It would not hurt to give him a human vitamin E softgel and a 1/2 tablet of human B complex tablet daily. I had a hen once with crooked toes and her toes tended to lift up off the ground.

 

[DawnLee]

In layers the Enrofloxacin/Baytril will accumulate in the ovaries and a tiny amount might be passed onto the ova.

But as the males do not have ovaries there is nothing to worry about cockerels/roosters passing any residues on when mating.

Thank you for explaining.

 

[DawnLee]

Is your cockerel on a brand name balanced chick starter grower feed? It would not hurt to give him a human vitamin E softgel and a 1/2 tablet of human B complex tablet daily. I had a hen once with crooked toes and her toes tended to lift up off the ground.

I am pretty sure it is MS. He is on Kalmbach 20% chick starter. He did get the vitamin shot from the vet which had Vitamin E.

He is just laying around. I am not sure how long I should give him before I decided to end his misery. I am struggling with that. I don't want him to starve to death. He is only eating and drinking small amounts. He does seem to be painful in his legs which is why he isn't walking. I am thinking his toes moved upwards when he was trying to balance himself.

 

[Eggcessive]

Usually with mycoplasma synovitis, the ankles and hocks will appear swollen, which doesn’t seem to be the case here. If you decide to put him down, it would be good to let your state vet lab do a necropsy and test the tissues to look for MS. Here is a list of state vet labs to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[DawnLee]

Usually with mycoplasma synovitis, the ankles and hocks will appear swollen, which doesn’t seem to be the case here. If you decide to put him down, it would be good to let your state vet lab do a necropsy and test the tissues to look for MS. Here is a list of state vet labs to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

Thank you.

 

[LaFleche]

Anyone see a chicken with their toes lifting upward and having trouble walking? My 11 week old cockerel started this a few days ago. He is hardly eating or drinking.

View attachment 3937666

Zooming in the tip of his left digit toe seems bloody and the joints of his back toe as well.
How do his droppings look?