Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[Minnie&Moose]

One of our 12 week old orpington chicks was limping slightly yesterday evening when I put them away. This morning he's limping very noticeably, choosing to lie down rather than standing, and when he moves across the lawn it's very clear he doesn't want to put weight on one foot. I've checked both feet & legs for signs of injury - can't see anything. Both feet & legs are cool to the touch, no noticeable swelling. Just in case I've sprayed the soles of his feet with purple spray and put him in an eglu run on his own on clean grass. He's bright and alert and eating, and doesn't appear unduly stressed, just doesn't want to move. We're confident he's a he, and I've only got homes for 2 of the 4 males hatched so he was destined for the pot. I was going to give him 24-48 hours and see what happens but part of me thinks I should just cull him now (he's too small to eat) [unfortunately he's my favourite, relatively tame, likes to share the garden bench with us ]. Any thoughts? His welfare, rather than my feelings, is the main concern here.

[Egluntyne]

I would rest him in a cat carrier or similar, so that he can't aggravate the injury further, for a few days. He will want to run about and keep up with the others. Sounds like a sprain of some sort.

 

Tbh, I would cull him at this point, if that was your intention further down the line.

[Beantree]

As Eglutyne says, he needs to have his movement restricted to give him chance to recover. It's likely to be a hip injury which could take several weeks to improve. We had an Orpington hen that took 6 weeks before she stopped limping. However Orpingtons aren't particularly good eating anyway in our experience, even utility strain ones. So perhaps best cull now and save the feed.

[Daphne]

Not wishing to alarm you unnecessarily or hasten his demise, but he might have mareks. Just the right age You don't say quite what he is doing with the leg, but mareks can often present first of all with either leg or wing paralysis (can't remember if there is a 'usual' order or if its 'usual' to have both). If it is mareks, it will get worse and eventually the bird won't want to/or be able to eat/drink causing a nasty death.

 

I think I'd keep him separate and quiet for 24-48 hours of monitoring, in case its nothing like that, just a knock from jumping off a perch or catching his foot in the eglu rungs or whatever.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks everyone. Deed now done! Feels a bit different when it's one you've reared rather than an anonymous bird produced in a course

[Egluntyne]

Good for you. Sensible and pragmatic. Still difficult though.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks Egluntyne.

[Daphne]

Indeed, it's tough but you've obviously got what it takes to hatch