Young rooster who won’t put weight on left leg

[Megan_mar]

Hi, I have a rooster who is about 4 to 5 months old. Ever since he was young he’s always just kind of laid around and not been super active. When he did start walking around I noticed that he would walk 1 foot on top of the other. The last month or so he’s secluded himself to hiding under bushes or hiding under the roost and not having much involvement. I noticed that his left foot he only walks on the tiptoes and won’t put any weight on the actual foot. He will let the entire leg down but the foot is still balled up. When he does try to stand up, he uses his right wing as a crutch to help him along. I have looked at it to see if there were any injuries to it that might have went to infection and I cannot find anything wrong with it. He is a very sweet rooster and I don’t want to have to put him down but I can’t figure out what’s wrong with him! I have tried washing his feet off with water and pouring a vinegar water solution on it then I sprayed his foot down with that blue gel that is supposed to soothe. I’ve kept him in isolation on clean cedar chips and let him out by himself during the day... Any insights?

 

[Megan_mar]

 

[JedJackson]

It could be bumblefoot. Check the bottom of the effected foot again. If it's swollen, hot or if there's an abscess or black scab there, then those are symptoms that can help confirm. If not and the foot looks just like his other one, then I don't know-- maybe arthritis.

If it is bumblefoot, then it can be treated with some success. First check the bird and let us know. A good photo of the bottom of the effected foot would help.

 

[Megan_mar]

I’ll double check the underside when I get home.

 

[rebrascora]

At his age, my guess would be Marek's Disease. A multivitamin supplement like Nutri Drench might help support his immune system and you will need to provide him with some safe space like a cage where the rest of the flock cannot peck him because they may suddenly turn on him.

 

[Allison Epperson]

I have a Silkie rooster who is almost 3 months old and has the same exact issue, lame left foot.....it came on all of a sudden....wasn’t a problem one day, then was a problem the next. Nothing seems broken or out of socket, he can flex his toes and his legs, but his left knee joint seems bigger than his right knee joint, and for a while it felt hot to the touch. I gave him some antibiotic that I had leftover from another older hen with respiratory issues, hoping that if he had an infection in his knee joint, it would cure his lameness (but it didn’t). I read all about Mareks and Bumblefoot, and neither seemed to accurately describe his problem. I babied him and secluded him for a few days wondering if he’d even make it, but he seemed so stressed without the other Silkie hen & rooster (chicks) by his side that I eventually put him back with them and so far they take such good care of him (he’s always in the middle of the other two staying nice and warm on chilly nights). That may change when the other rooster gets older and more aggressive, never had a rooster before so not sure how this will turn out. We also have an assortment of year-old laying hens (2 Buffs, 3 Easter Eggers, 2 Delawares, 3 Barred Plymouths, 2 Wyandottes, plus four other 3 month old chicks—2 Golden Comets, 1 Cinnamon Queen, 1 Calico). I just put the 3 silkies in to roost with the other 16 last night (after a few weeks of keeping them in a pen together during the day and doing fine together). They survived the night, even the lame one! With only one working rooster who is a Silkie, we should get some interesting combinations of chicks! The lame Silkie gets around only using one leg but since he’s a rooster, we won’t be getting eggs from him, and since he’s lame, our flock can’t count on him for protection....I guess he’s pretty useless and will most likely be picked on by the rest of the flock eventually (or taken out easily by a predator while free ranging) so I’m seriously thinking about bringing him indoors and putting a diaper on him!

 

[Megan_mar]

I will check into Marek's Disease. Today I purchased Poultry Cell, a vitamin supplement to see if that helps. I again checked his foot and leg and as far as the foot is concerned; it seems like the joint to all the toes is pretty stiff as if it won’t allow the toes to stretch out as fully as the toes on the right. His left heel seems more red and possibly swollen. I still have not found any major sources of trauma. My guess is the it is a vitamin deficiency or that he has a deformed leg/foot... I’m not sure if this will fix itself over time or not...