Swollen ankle in rooster

[Abriana]

Napoleon is turning three in March, he's a Columbian rock rooster, and weighs around 7 pounds. About a year ago he jumped out of my arms and landed kind of funny, and limped afterward. His ankle is constantly swollen now, and it affects the way he roosts--his toes have trouble curling around the roost. His limp isn't too bad, but I'm pretty sure that the cold is making it worse. I can post pictures tomorrow if needed. Any suggestions to help with swelling? A warm epsom salt soak? I've tried that before but not for an extended period of time. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[ChickNanny13]

The injury happened a year ago, how did you originally treat?
He's been limping since then?
Has his ankle been swollen since then?
Has his problem with roosting just recent?
Where are you located? It helps to know your location; time zone, weather conditions, predator possibilities ....

My thought is it being a "old" injury with the cold it would affect this ankle, like arthritis. If the swelling & roosting problem are recent, I'm thinking he may have done more damage to his ankle than a sprain. Is he eating/drinking/pooping ok?

 

[staceyj]

Pictures of the ankle and a video of him walking on it (you can’t load directly to BYC. You have to upload to you-tube or similar video viewing platform, then post a link here) it would help generate some ideas from the community.

If it’s an inflammatory response to the weather, perhaps some suggestions for alternative roosting options might help.
I’m thinking along the lines of lower and wider.

Could you describe the roost you have?

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you get some metacam from a vet to help with pain and inflammation? Aspirin in the water 325 mg per every 250 ml, changed twice a day might help as well if it is arthritic pain from his old injury. The warm Epsom salts soaks may be soothing and help the pain. I would do those inside the house to keep him warm though. I don’t know if a vet wrap splint support might help during the day when he is moving about. You would have to take care not to cut off circulation since it swells.

 

[staceyj]

Napoleon is turning three in March, he's a Columbian rock rooster, and weighs around 7 pounds. About a year ago he jumped out of my arms and landed kind of funny, and limped afterward. His ankle is constantly swollen now, and it affects the way he roosts--his toes have trouble curling around the roost. His limp isn't too bad, but I'm pretty sure that the cold is making it worse. I can post pictures tomorrow if needed. Any suggestions to help with swelling? A warm epsom salt soak? I've tried that before but not for an extended period of time. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Hey sorry @Abriana, I hit post before I finished my thoughts. Dog barking...husband talking...

Could you please check the bottoms of his feet as well?

Just to be sure a bumblefoot infection hasn’t travelled into his joint.

One thing about Epsom salt soaks:
IT NEVER HURTS! Lol. And
It’s always worth a try!
15 minutes or so. You could do it a few times a day if you can squeeze it into your day. Just make sure you get the bird dried off well afterwards.
Do you have a little bathroom size wastebasket?
It’s the bomb-diggity for soaking chicken feet!

 

[Eggcessive]

Chicken planter! Or potted chicken!

 

[MissChick@dee]

Warm epsom soaks. Wrap with vet wrap for support. Just a hint don’t wrap too thick with vet wrap it’s nice to wrap a layer of gauze first too.
Today I had to remove a wrap from one of my hens. I wrapped it too thick and it was a monster to get off.
She had purple and blue at her ankle. Redness running up her leg and slight swelling of her toes. She landed wrong off a perch. 2 weeks later she good as new...lol even survived the bandage removal.

Can you get some metacam from a vet to help with pain and inflammation? Aspirin in the water 325 mg per every 250 ml, changed twice a day might help as well if it is arthritic pain from his old injury. The warm Epsom salts soaks may be soothing and help the pain. I would do those inside the house to keep him warm though. I don’t know if a vet wrap splint support might help during the day when he is moving about. You would have to take care not to cut off circulation since it swells.

thank you

 

[Abriana]

The injury happened a year ago, how did you originally treat?
He's been limping since then?
Has his ankle been swollen since then?
Has his problem with roosting just recent?
Where are you located? It helps to know your location; time zone, weather conditions, predator possibilities ....

My thought is it being a "old" injury with the cold it would affect this ankle, like arthritis. If the swelling & roosting problem are recent, I'm thinking he may have done more damage to his ankle than a sprain. Is he eating/drinking/pooping ok?

I was totally new to chickens at the time the injury happened. I just let it be, and then noticed it was swollen. I just did Epsom salt soaks and wrapped it.
I noticed today that his whole foot just seemed rounder than it should be. It seemed that he was tilted toward his good side on the roost and that made me want to check it.
His crop is full, I'm assuming he has been drinking, I usually see him drink during the day. And yes he is pooping.

 

[staceyj]

Chicken planter! Or potted chicken!

I’ve also been accused of:
Bucket of chicken!

 

[Abriana]

Pictures of the ankle and a video of him walking on it (you can’t load directly to BYC. You have to upload to you-tube or similar video viewing platform, then post a link here) it would help generate some ideas from the community.

If it’s an inflammatory response to the weather, perhaps some suggestions for alternative roosting options might help.
I’m thinking along the lines of lower and wider.

Could you describe the roost you have?

I don't know if I will be able to upload a video, but I can definitely get pictures.
A regular 2x4, on is about a half a foot to a foot off the ground and the other is maybe two feet off of the ground. He prefers the higher one, but I can move it down and put down a thicker layer of shavings to give him a lower jump and a cushy landing.

Can you get some metacam from a vet to help with pain and inflammation? Aspirin in the water 325 mg per every 250 ml, changed twice a day might help as well if it is arthritic pain from his old injury. The warm Epsom salts soaks may be soothing and help the pain. I would do those inside the house to keep him warm though. I don’t know if a vet wrap splint support might help during the day when he is moving about. You would have to take care not to cut off circulation since it swells.

I don't know if I can, and I prefer not to give it to the entire flock. Is there a way to administer it to just him? I know how to use a catheter directly into his crop if thats the best way to get it in him(did a lot of that this past autumn!). I will definitely start warm soaks twice per day, in a warm place. I've done the vet wrap before, I'll keep an eye on it.

Hey sorry @Abriana, I hit post before I finished my thoughts. Dog barking...husband talking...

Could you please check the bottoms of his feet as well?

Just to be sure a bumblefoot infection hasn’t travelled into his joint.

One thing about Epsom salt soaks:
IT NEVER HURTS! Lol. And
It’s always worth a try!
15 minutes or so. You could do it a few times a day if you can squeeze it into your day. Just make sure you get the bird dried off well afterwards.
Do you have a little bathroom size wastebasket?
It’s the bomb-diggity for soaking chicken feet!

View attachment 1638867

He has had bumblefoot in the past, but that was a while ago, before the injury I believe. It was treated and healed up nicely. I'm pretty sure that he doesn't have any (I felt the bottom of his foot) but I will look closely tomorrow.
that's cute! I can purchase one, or I have a little plastic tub that I use for soaks.

Warm epsom soaks. Wrap with vet wrap for support. Just a hint don’t wrap too thick with vet wrap it’s nice to wrap a layer of gauze first too.
Today I had to remove a wrap from one of my hens. I wrapped it too thick and it was a monster to get off.
She had purple and blue at her ankle. Redness running up her leg and slight swelling of her toes. She landed wrong off a perch. 2 weeks later she good as new...lol even survived the bandage removal.

thank you

Ok thank you! I didn't think about a gauze layer first. I will definitely try this!

Thank you all for your help! I will post pictures of his foot tomorrow.