Limping Cockerel - help please

[OverWyreGrower]

One of my boys is limping - and I can't work out why!

There is nothing obviously wrong with his foot. I've poked and prodded it, and manipulated all his toes and joints. He isn't happy about me doing it, but doesn't kick up a fuss. Nothing is red or swollen.

The only thing I can 'find' is that his thigh joint is quite hot. I can't see anything wrong with the skin (i.e. wound etc).

He still perches at night, but with one foot only partly on the perch, and has a pronounced limp (though he's still quite fast)

Any ideas?

[jessmorris]

He might have dislocated something - hip perhaps?

[RichmondHens]

How long has he been like it? Unspecific lameness is a funny thing and sometimes you just have to leave well alone and it resolves itself. If he is still getting about and otherwise perky then I would see how he goes. You can give Metacam (anti-inflammatory) at a dose of (I think, check with a vet) 0.5 ml once a day if he seems in a lot of pain.

I currently have a teeny tiny bantam hen with unspecific lameness. I can't find anything particular - joints normal, feet uninjured etc etc, she just won't put her foot to the floor and hops everywhere. She seems unfazed by examination and doesn't flinch at all when I periodically pick her up and prod and poke, but is not improving. I've not medicated her and am seeing how she goes. I also have a turkey who somehow injured himself (I think by jumping off a pig ark) and who hopped around for a few weeks, but all of a sudden he is sound again with no intervention from me.

Good luck with your cock. Hopefully things will right themselves soon.

[petal]

best thing to do is isolate him in a cage with water and corn for a forced 'rest' its usually a muscle, I guess, they have damaged .

[Prince of Durham]

Have any new birds been introduced? They can sometime fight and take a knock (a bit like a dead leg). I had a hen that had a terrible limp for about three weeks. I just separated her and kept her well fed and watered. She eventually started to put weight on it and now she's as good as new. Your Rooster may have just landed awkward when jumping from his perch.