[Elvis and the Girls]

Hello
I wonder if anyone can advise me, I have a year old Buff Orpington cockerel (called originally Buffy) who seems to have gone off his legs. Last Sunday (9 days ago) I noticed he was sitting down a lot, by Monday he wasn't leaving the hen house with the others (they free range) so because we weren't sure what was going on we seperated him from the others where he seemed very happy to spend the week eating small amounts and drinking large amounts from his personal bowls and just sitting in the doorway to his run watching the world go by!
This recent weekend we decided to let him out to free range with the others again, he walks very slowly and carefully, and stops every few yards to sit down and rest but apart from that seems content enough?? Thankfully he doesn't stray to far so we just pick him up and bring him back in at tea time.
If I could work out how to post pics I have a lovely one of him basking in the sunshine looking like he doesn't have a care in the world ... until he starts walking.
Does any of this seem familiar to anyone else?

[Elvis and the Girls]

Here's Buffy in the sunshine on Sunday

[Vember]

Hi Elvis

Fine looking boy you've got there

Is he breathing ok? Not rattly ?

I imagine you've checked his feet over to make sure there are no cuts or lumps?

Sarah

[Aunt Sally]

What a beautiful bird he is  

There are quite a few conditions that affect chickens joints ranging  from strained muscles and ruptured ligaments to infectious arthritis.

Is he quite a heavy boy ? Has he jumped off of anything that might have caused a strain ?  If you manipulate his joints does he flinch ?

[Elvis and the Girls]

Thanks for the replys, his breathing is fine and his feet seemed fine when we checked them but I never thought to pay attention to his joints! Will have a go at manipulating them gently and see what happens, he is a heavy boy but doesn't jump down from anywhere as he has refused to perch since he was about 10 weeks old. He does tend to run across the field when he sees us and has tumbled sometimes (very amusing to watch) but hasn't done so for a while now.

[Aunt Sally]

I'd give him a bit of time.  He may well have pulled something and pulled chook legs take a while to recover. Three weeks would not be too long.

If he becomes a little poorly then suspect a possible infection that could need a vet's attention.

[Exbattmad]

He is a handsome chap thats for sure.
when you feel his legs and up into his hip, feel for any hotspots. If you find an area that feels hot then this will be where your boys problem lies.
look for any bruising and if you spot any then apply some arnica cream.

[Elvis and the Girls]

Sadly Bufy took a turn for the worse last night and dispite TLC died overnight.
But he has left a legacy, we have (had) 3 cockerals so some of these chicks hatched at the weekend are bound to be his!!

[Rubellite]

Poor Buffy - sorry to hear that.
Hope the chicks do ok, they look really sweet