[plumseverywhere]

So back to the vet after what looked like bumble foot a few weeks back and a course of baytril seemed to do the trick, pretty much. 
Last 2 days though, we have swollen feet again, yesterday red legs glowing through his feathery feet adn today, bleeding red legs.
we now have stringer course of baytril, some anti inflammatories and some anti louse stuff (just in case).  He's still fine in himselff, crowing for england and doing his 'thang' with the ladies but am worried. Vet says either an infection (nasty one at that) or an illness he was born with.  dearie me, what next?! 

[shetlandpaul]

we had a cochin that developed a bad case of bumble foot. sadly it came back worse the second time and was put down.

[plumseverywhere]

I think that might have to be the case here too shetland paul. We'll give him a chance because he's my daughters cockerel and she's only 8 but we can't keep a bird that's never going to be well really.

[shetlandpaul]

same with sparky. he was very soft and would let you pick him up and stroke him. the vet had us draining pus from his foot and it did go down a bit but then it came back and started going black. we bumped him off before the lad got up. he chose to bury him. its never the bad tempered ones that seem to get ill.

[plumseverywhere]

oh that's sad 
cuckoo is a big, cuddly softie - like you say, another good tempered one that's got ill. ALthough I make a point of not fussing him in front of his hens, when we were at the vets he was enjoying a lot of cuddles and fuss. Despite the sheer size of him, hes just a big teddy bear and so good with the children.  hubby and I just gave him his second dose of all his drugs, even hubby (livestock holds no interest for him!) has a soft spot for this one.

[NormandyMary]

It really is a nasty nasty illness. You have my sincere sympathies, and I hope that your boy gets better very soon.

[little blue]

poor lad, its so sad when they've a good heart...

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thats such bad news Plumbs,

  I remember you getting him as a gift for your daughter and you were so excided. The chances of bumble foot can be an issue for the heavier breeds. removing the roosting bars or lowering them to stepping distance can help as well as ensuring that the bedding is deep enough to absorb landing impact.

If its something irritating his legs you could try triming his feathers off and washing his legs down in an antiseptic / anti parasite treatment which the vet could provide. Personally I'm a big fan of sudacrem and have used it on my horses cuts and mud fever scabs for years. You could stick it on his trimmed and washhed legs and keep him in an isolation pen for a few days to ensure the others wernt pecking his legs. Its basically zincoxcide so it assists healing but also inhibits uv rays and works wonders with bacterial infections parasites and inflamation.

Its such a worry when they are ill. I had a poorly youngster yesterday who spent the day hunched with her eyes closed and wouldnt eat or drink. I gave her some antibiotic and a regular syringe of water every couple of hours in the evening and massaged her crop. she was getting weak and I wasnt hopeful when I left her in the utility room over night. But this morning she was feeling much better and after a hearty breakfast of mackrel, strawberry, corn and chick crumb and a good drink of water followed by a couple of nomal droppings she was ready to join the others.

As your boy isnt actually ill in himself I think I would have another go at sorting his legs before you make any drastic decisions. Good Luck,

Buffy

[plumseverywhere]

THank you Buffy 

well, we are about 4 days into treatment now and its good news for cuckoo! feet and legs less red, no limp and a happy boy.  the vet did mention that his first course of baytril was probably not the right dose (!) as chickens have a fast metabolism and need a greater dose. This time it seems to have done the job (fingers crossed..)

[shetlandpaul]

good luck. just keep an eye on him after the treatment has finished. our vet said it has a habit of coming back. and after seeing what came out of his feet i was amazed that he could walk at all.

[plumseverywhere]

just can't believe that we've managed to catch this  HUGE bird twice a day and squirt medicine in his beak with only one peck coming my way , what a sweetie!! I am so worried that his feet will get bad again but keeping all fingers and toes crossed (for eloise, my 8 year old that he will be ok)

[shetlandpaul]

if your honest with the daughter and explain that the chuck is in pain they can be very level headed about these things. if your aughter helps look after the birds she will understand that tough decissions have to be made sometimes. but lets hope its not at that stage. make sure your daughter and yourself are careful about not getting scratched by the bird. the bug can cause problems if it gets into wounds.

[faith0504]

i have got everything crossed for the handsome man 

[sheardale]

How is the cockerel now.

[plumseverywhere]

He is REALLY well in himself - no limping, still crowing and chasing the ladeeeez but if the weather is raining, his feet look tatty and bloody. now I'm not sure how much of this is to do with his heavily feathered feet and mud?
we still have about 3 days of twice dailiy meds to do.  He's just fed up with the morning grab and medicate routine now bless him!

The children have faced so much death this last month or so, they are almost immune to emotions now. They shed a tear when little shaun the lamb was very poorly but were very grown up about the fact it was cruel to keep such an unwell animal alive.  then korma the chicken died a fortnight ago. then our cat got killed on the road thursday - toby was 13 and a pet all their lives, they sat and listened and looked cross for a minute then went to play.  not to mention losing 2 goats last year, coco the other cockerel, fox attack on chicken tikka, bobby the kitten and woody the kitten both killed on road - no wonder I suppose 
sometimes I wonder if this lifestyle is good for them or possibly harmful, I don't know