young rooster limping, rapid deterioration

[Gonda]

I have a young rooster, about 18-20 weeks old. I bought him along with 4 others from someone else about 4 weeks ago. I noticed a slight limp on him last week, but he seemed well otherwise. Early this week, it was a noticeable limp and he was favouring his right leg. He was still able to jump to the top of the roosting ladder, until last night when I found him lying on the ground. He was still able to stand but was wobbly and this morning was sitting more than standing. By this evening, he was toppling forward if he stood suddenly. An hour ago, I found him outside, so he had made it out there, but couldn't get back into the coop. His legs are now splayed behind him and he can't even sit on them. He's lying in an awkward position.

I checked him out several times, starting when I first noticed the limp, and have not been able to see any reason for it. His feet and legs moved normally. There was no apparent deformity or disfigurement or fracture. He didn't object to having them flexed or stretched. He did squawk a few times when I was handling him, like moving him from one arm to another. He was active and seemed well otherwise.

I gave him an anti-inflammatory "metacam" by injection last night (had that from my vet when another rooster was attacked by a dog), and gave the dose prescribed for the other rooster, so it can't have been too much, but it certainly didn't help. Hopefully it's at least keeping him comfortable. I'm hoping he dies on his own quickly. He is deteriorating very fast over the last few days.

Any idea what might be going on?

 

[mccabe]

Aloha, Gonda. You have obviously been diligent in trying to resolve the problem and keep him comfortable. I agree he is probably on his way out. This sounds like a neurological problem. Could he have eaten something damaging: poison, chemical, bad feed? Could he have dislocated or wrenched his leg and is now slowly going into deep shock? They can be so fragile and, as you seem to understand, sometimes they don't make it. My main concern at this time would be to make sure you find out what happened to him in case it is something another chicken in your little flock might succumb to. Look carefully to see if you can find where he might have gotten trapped and wrenched a leg. Check to see if a neighbor might have sprayed something for bugs or weeds. Check your chicken feed. Hopefully, this is an isolated incident. I'm sorry for the frustration. You want to make him better and nothing is working. At least know you have done all you can. If he seems to be in pain you might consider putting him down instead of prolonging the suffering. Or your vet could assist you. jeannie mccabe

 

[Gonda]

thanks so much for your response. I considered the possibility that he might have wrenched his leg, but then I thought the anti-inflammatory medication would have started working and I would not expect to see such rapid deterioration, it seems to me. They don't free range, and there is no one spraying in the field next to the run. His feed should be OK. I had hoped he would be gone by this morning, but he's looking quite alive still, and sitting in a better position, but one leg sticking out in front of him. I am thinking that I might try to bring his body to an agricultural lab after he dies to rule out anything infectious. But he might die on the weekend.

I've been thinking of putting him down. But I'm a softie and might have to solicit some help for that. How do you put down a chicken? I've read of a way to break the neck quickly, but I'd be afraid I might not do it right or quickly enough.

 

[Gonda]

Just an update - the woman I bought the rooster from came and picked him up today and her husband put him down, which was very kind of them to spare me that. She gave me another rooster of the same kind, a very nice gesture. Kind of a weird feeling - while I was at work, my sick rooster was being taken away and a new rooster had arrived in his place when I came home.

She was wondering if the rooster could have had Marek's disease. She had vaccinated against it but she had been told that still 5% of birds can still get the disease in spite of vaccination. She believes the rest of my flock should be OK as they were vaccinated. I'll keep a close eye on them. From what I've read, it does seem that this could be what the problem was. Last night, I did suspect that his legs simply were paralyzed. I hope this is the end of it and that the flock will do well! Thankfully they seem to be getting along with the new rooster very nicely, and he with them.