wildmtnhoney
In the Brooder
Hi all.
So back in August, not long after I got my first flock, some type of respiratory illness ran its course through all of my birds. I treated it successfully with Oxytetracycline HCL, giving them the prescribed dosage for 10 days. Since then, they've all been back to normal with the exception of a couple coughs or sneezes here or there.
Well, over the last couple of days I have noticed that the dominant roo in my flock, Captain, a completely handsome WPR, has not at all been acting like himself.
It started with his comb developing this weird white pattern in its texture about a week ago. It doesn't appear to be a fungus or anything like that--this part of his comb is actually sort of turning white. Then, over the last couple days, I've noticed that he's stopped crowing altogether (and he's usually super crow-happy with a perfect, big loud belt of sound). Now he's just incredibly lethargic. Of all 8 of my birds, he probably loves free ranging and foraging the most, but all he does lately is lay in the bedding or perch on the roost with his tail all relaxed, and with this really kind of pitiful look in his eyes, as opposed to his normal cockiness/assertiveness. He even lets me pet him and doesn't walk away when I approach him, which has never happened in the time that he's been with us.
In the mornings, he's always the first bird off the roost, scratching around in the run or crowing his freaking head off, waiting for me to come open the door so he can go out to forage. This morning, however, he was the last bird off the roost and when I walked over to have a look at him, there was this long thick string of mucus coming out of his mouth and falling into his wattle. I don't know if it was mucus or vomit, or what, but it was definitely pretty disturbing and gross. Ordinarily he wouldn't let me get within a foot of him while he roosts without flying off into the run, but today he didn't budge and, again, actually let me pet him.
I took a couple pictures to try to show the mucus and his mannerisms--how sort of demure/docile he's being. They aren't the greatest quality because it was still dark out this morning when I took them.
Hopefully, though, they can help some of you with an expert eye help me identify what might be going on with him. I haven't changed anything about their environment or feed lately, so I don't know if it's something I did, or just a sickness he's caught. Just in case it was sour crop or something like that, I added some ACV to their water this morning and intend to keep that up for the next few days, at least. He doesn't seem to have any interest in eating or drinking though, so I don't know if it's going to help him.
Here you can see that string of mucus under his wattle, and also the discoloration of his comb and how it's kind of flopped over:
And here you can see how he has his tail all relaxed and how lazily he's perched. He's also not extending his neck all the way--all proudly like he usually does, and his breathing seemed kind of labored:
So what do you guys think?? Any suggestions or advice are very much appreciated. I hate to see this handsome guy so sick.
So back in August, not long after I got my first flock, some type of respiratory illness ran its course through all of my birds. I treated it successfully with Oxytetracycline HCL, giving them the prescribed dosage for 10 days. Since then, they've all been back to normal with the exception of a couple coughs or sneezes here or there.
Well, over the last couple of days I have noticed that the dominant roo in my flock, Captain, a completely handsome WPR, has not at all been acting like himself.
It started with his comb developing this weird white pattern in its texture about a week ago. It doesn't appear to be a fungus or anything like that--this part of his comb is actually sort of turning white. Then, over the last couple days, I've noticed that he's stopped crowing altogether (and he's usually super crow-happy with a perfect, big loud belt of sound). Now he's just incredibly lethargic. Of all 8 of my birds, he probably loves free ranging and foraging the most, but all he does lately is lay in the bedding or perch on the roost with his tail all relaxed, and with this really kind of pitiful look in his eyes, as opposed to his normal cockiness/assertiveness. He even lets me pet him and doesn't walk away when I approach him, which has never happened in the time that he's been with us.
In the mornings, he's always the first bird off the roost, scratching around in the run or crowing his freaking head off, waiting for me to come open the door so he can go out to forage. This morning, however, he was the last bird off the roost and when I walked over to have a look at him, there was this long thick string of mucus coming out of his mouth and falling into his wattle. I don't know if it was mucus or vomit, or what, but it was definitely pretty disturbing and gross. Ordinarily he wouldn't let me get within a foot of him while he roosts without flying off into the run, but today he didn't budge and, again, actually let me pet him.
I took a couple pictures to try to show the mucus and his mannerisms--how sort of demure/docile he's being. They aren't the greatest quality because it was still dark out this morning when I took them.
Hopefully, though, they can help some of you with an expert eye help me identify what might be going on with him. I haven't changed anything about their environment or feed lately, so I don't know if it's something I did, or just a sickness he's caught. Just in case it was sour crop or something like that, I added some ACV to their water this morning and intend to keep that up for the next few days, at least. He doesn't seem to have any interest in eating or drinking though, so I don't know if it's going to help him.
Here you can see that string of mucus under his wattle, and also the discoloration of his comb and how it's kind of flopped over:
And here you can see how he has his tail all relaxed and how lazily he's perched. He's also not extending his neck all the way--all proudly like he usually does, and his breathing seemed kind of labored:
So what do you guys think?? Any suggestions or advice are very much appreciated. I hate to see this handsome guy so sick.
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