Vitamin Deficiency Rooster

[blondie55555]

It appears I have a vitamin deficiency issue on my 14 week old Rooster. I got him around 7 weeks and he was vaccinated for Mereks. I’ve been keeping an eye on him for sometime. I kept thinking I saw something abnormal about his feet/walk. He seemed to walk kind of soft footed, but I couldn’t quite determine what if anything was going on. No bumblefoot, didn’t see any breaks etc. I suspected Vitamin sufficiency and started him on B12 Complex with Poultry Cell in his water 3 days ago. Today I noticed he is sitting with his legs out front in lieu of under him and his toes are beginning to curl. He is still eating and walking thus far, but he kind of swings his leg around and kinda slaps his foot down when walking. I’ve had him on Kalmbach Feeds All Natural 18% Protein Start Right Chick Feed and switched to Kalmbach All Natural 20% Protein Flock Maker Crumbles about a week ago. They rarely get anything other than their feed, but occasionally get grass, mealworms, and a sprinkle of herb supplement in their food. They do have grit available.

I had this same issue with one of my chicks last time around maybe 22 weeks, but they were on Nature Wise grower/Purina All Flock. Nursed her with vitamins and taping feet etc for at least 4 weeks with no improvement. Was this a coincidence?

Only one in last group of 5 was affected (though it was the only one of its breed) and only one this time (so far). Wondering what is causing it as they had nutritious feed? Last time I didn’t give any herb supplements.

Would this be a genetic problem? I don’t know if he will make it, but if he does, I’m assuming I would not want to use him for breeding?

Attaching picture of him standing, sitting with curled toe, and a picture of him sitting with both legs outstretched.

I will vamp up his treatment with vit e and special foods.

Your thoughts?

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

You mentioned genetics. Is this rooster from the same place you got the first group where one was like this?

He still walks around fine albeit curled toes?

You're doing well to give him B-complex and Poultry Cell. You could skip the Poultry Cell to just every other day though so he doesn't OD on other vitamins/minerals in that. How much B-complex? If it's a human pill, he could have 1/4 to 1/2 of one per day.

Vit E is also a good idea. About 400 IU/lb per day. Follow that up with some scrambled eggs to help it absorb better.

 

[blondie55555]

Hello Debbie, thanks for your response. He’s no worse today, but possibly no better today either. His toes were only curled the one time while sitting down. Yes he’s still walking but sits a lot. It obviously hurts. I’m keeping him crated during the day but letting him out just before coop time. I’m giving him 1/2 human b complex and 1 400 gel vitamin. He normally plops down with feet out front but I did just now see him sitting with legs underneath him. The one leg had the curled toes (not curled when walking and haven’t seen it curled again-maybe caught in time?) but the other one is the problem leg. When he walks he kind of swings it around and appears flat footed. I would post a video but not sure how to. If not for the curled toes, I wondered if maybe dislocated?

Yes he’s from same breeder, but he’s a different breed. The other one played for 1-2 weeks before starting with a limp and progressing quickly. No signs of Mereks on either plus they were both vaccinated. (I know that’s not foolproof). He doesn’t like the poultry cell in his food, so I could stop that or I should give it every other day? He still throws a fit when I use the syringe and I’m leary of it going down wrong. I’ll try scrambled eggs without the poultry cell. I also got tuna fish today. He’s still eating his feed well and his poop is good-not runny.

I purchased him to breed, but I’m thinking that’s not a good idea even if he does get well?

Thanks for your input.

 

[blondie55555]

Sorry layed not played.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hello Debbie, thanks for your response. He’s no worse today, but possibly no better today either. His toes were only curled the one time while sitting down. Yes he’s still walking but sits a lot. It obviously hurts. I’m keeping him crated during the day but letting him out just before coop time. I’m giving him 1/2 human b complex and 1 400 gel vitamin. He normally plops down with feet out front but I did just now see him sitting with legs underneath him. The one leg had the curled toes (not curled when walking and haven’t seen it curled again-maybe caught in time?) but the other one is the problem leg. When he walks he kind of swings it around and appears flat footed. I would post a video but not sure how to. If not for the curled toes, I wondered if maybe dislocated?

Yes he’s from same breeder, but he’s a different breed. The other one played for 1-2 weeks before starting with a limp and progressing quickly. No signs of Mereks on either plus they were both vaccinated. (I know that’s not foolproof). He doesn’t like the poultry cell in his food, so I could stop that or I should give it every other day? He still throws a fit when I use the syringe and I’m leary of it going down wrong. I’ll try scrambled eggs without the poultry cell. I also got tuna fish today. He’s still eating his feed well and his poop is good-not runny.

I purchased him to breed, but I’m thinking that’s not a good idea even if he does get well?

Thanks for your input.

We put Poultry Cell in their water. It recommends 2 Tablespoons per gallon, but we usually make a two-quart pitcher so 1 Tablespoon.

To post a video, you can either post it on YouTube first, then link it back here, or similarly, it also works if you use our Gallery (tab above). I personally use YouTube for mine for the views, as the couple I have are educational.

 

[Exopoulterer]

Hi.
I am sorry to see that your cockerel is having trouble with his legs.

It just occurred to me when I read this that he is the second bird from the same breeder with similar issues.

Can you rule out Mycoplasma synoviae? His symptoms match some of those.

Is the breeder NPIP certified?

Have any of your pullets or hens had soft shell, thin shell, not so perfect looking eggs, or trouble laying, even with calcium, though your nutrition is good?


The sitting a lot, pain, arthritis, can be symptoms of this. Sometimes swelling in the hocks and feet can be seen. Not all birds will show symptoms. Respiratory symptoms can happen but it can be mild and not obvious.

MS is also has horizontal(bird to bird), and vertical transmission(passed to offspring through the egg).

Even though I have this in my flock, I never saw anything too obvious that couldn't have been something else that wasn't infectious.


I had an MS diagnosis in my flock from a necropsied pullet that never showed signs of any of these musculoskeletal symptoms. The only symptoms they had were barely noticable occasional wet sneezes and head flicking/shaking only when the first cold snap hit. This bird that was necropsied had trouble breathing in the last few days of her life but was also going through organ failure from Mareks and they found tumors in her lungs.

Can you get photos of his hocks and feet? The obvious swelling is more common in turkeys but can happen in chickens.

Most of the info and photos I find online are of course, really bad cases. My birds were not like this at all but that test was positive. (Mareks was a surprise as well with no neuro or ocular symptoms at all. Just the visceral cancer.)

Mycoplasma synoviae Infection in Poultry - Poultry - Merck Veterinary Manual https://share.google/jJ4f5fDrFKf0InGyF

There are a couple of photos way down in this article:
The pharmacokinetics of tilmicosin in plasma and joint dialysate in an experimentally Mycoplasma synoviae infection model - ScienceDirect https://share.google/CqEF1d3yi81S0Jh1c