Will this fix her leg?

[TrevaTheChicken]

[


You've been limiting diet for months...what have you been feeding?

She’s been on egg layer pellet, with a smaller scoop of corn mix (both per the advice from farm supply store) and fresh veg. Three set meals. I made sure he had enough to eat and then took the food away. He’s a good size

 

[Wyorp Rock]

seven months old

She’s been on egg layer pellet, with a smaller scoop of corn mix (both per the advice from farm supply store) and fresh veg. Three set meals. I made sure he had enough to eat and then took the food away. He’s a good size

How long has he been eating egg layer pellets?

Looks like more like a White Plymouth Rock cockerel to me. This is a dual purpose breed and at maturity he will be a large rooster.

You are doing him no favors feeding him layer pellets mixed with corn at his age.
I would get some chick starter or an all flock feed (18-20% protein). Feed him free choice (make food available for him during waking hours). A very small amount of scratch or a small piece of veg can be given once a day as a treat.
I would also get some Poultry Cell and give him a direct dose at 1 cc per 3 pounds of weight once a day. Give the vitamins 2-3 times a week.

His leg issue may be genetic, disease like Marek's, etc. hard to know, but they may also be due to too much calcium (layer feed), too little protein and a limited diet.
Keep him outside on the ground and off slippery floors.

 

[TrevaTheChicken]

How long has he been eating egg layer pellets?

Looks like more like a White Plymouth Rock cockerel to me. This is a dual purpose breed and at maturity he will be a large rooster.

You are doing him no favors feeding him layer pellets mixed with corn at his age.
I would get some chick starter or an all flock feed (18-20% protein). Feed him free choice (make food available for him during waking hours). A very small amount of scratch or a small piece of veg can be given once a day as a treat.
I would also get some Poultry Cell and give him a direct dose at 1 cc per 3 pounds of weight once a day. Give the vitamins 2-3 times a week.

His leg issue may be genetic, disease like Marek's, etc. hard to know, but they may also be due to too much calcium (layer feed), too little protein and a limited diet.
Keep him outside on the ground and off slippery floors.

Great advice. Thank you. Very glad to have found this forum!

 

[ackie]

Obviously outside is best but I'm wondering if giving him some kind of grippy booties for the slippery floors inside would help too. He'll definitely hate them at first but I know dogs can get used to them so I'm sure he could too. Slippery surfaces can mess up leg development in chicks, but I assume most people dont keep grown chickens on slippery surfaces so no one would think to research that.

 

[TrevaTheChicken]

Obviously outside is best but I'm wondering if giving him some kind of grippy booties for the slippery floors inside would help too. He'll definitely hate them at first but I know dogs can get used to them so I'm sure he could too. Slippery surfaces can mess up leg development in chicks, but I assume most people dont keep grown chickens on slippery surfaces so no one would think to research that.

He’s outside a lot. Inside is mainly at night due to the cold. But also I bring him in for him to have company. I’ll sit outside so he can scratch around for an hour or two and then he can either go in his coop or come in. He tends to just follow me inside. He loves being around people and will happily rest his head on my knee and fall asleep. It’ll be different when we get hens. Little boots are a great idea. Just, as you say, I can’t imagine he’d like it

 

[ackie]

He’s outside a lot. Inside is mainly at night due to the cold. But also I bring him in for him to have company. I’ll sit outside so he can scratch around for an hour or two and then he can either go in his coop or come in. He tends to just follow me inside. He loves being around people and will happily rest his head on my knee and fall asleep. It’ll be different when we get hens. Little boots are a great idea. Just, as you say, I can’t imagine he’d like it

Bribes. All the bribes. I can get my dog to accept anything if theres a tennis ball involved haha. I'm sure it's not quite the same but chickens are able to be conditioned.

 

[TrevaTheChicken]

Haha you are right. I can definitely bribe him. He’s pretty good. I’ve definitely seen a change over the last two weeks though. Like he’s hit puberty!