temperature/fever

ClaireDL

Chirping
6 Years
Nov 7, 2015
98
6
91
Southern Pines NC
What is the normal temperature for a 4 month old rooster and what do you use to take the temperature. When can we consider the bird is running a fever?
Thanks
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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I believe the average temperature of a hen is about 106 to 107 degrees Fahrenheit. I would think I rooster is pretty similar.

I have never take the temp of bird however the vent would be a good place to do this. However I have had birds with fevers. They will pant even during cool weather. And they actually feel quite hot. You can hold the bird and feel the temp difference. Especially the feet which will be very warm compared to the others.

If a bird has a fever, they could be suffering from many things from bacterial infections, fungal infections, worms, egg binding, all kinds of things.

Does the bird have any other symptoms? You might do a thorough check of your bird from beak to tail. Take note of the color of the comb, consistency of the poop as well. And post in our emergency section. Lots of people over there that can give you some suggestions....https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

Good luck and I hope your bird or birds are ok!!
 
If you live in a hot, humid climate chickens will frequently pant with open mouth and hold their wings away from their body to cool off. They need lots of cool water and shade, and even a pan of shallow water to stand in and cool their feet. Cool feet = cooler chickens.

If you don't have hot weather now or if this is your only bird to seem hot, please follow 2 Crows advice that it may be parasites, or disease etc.
 
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glad you have joined us.

Poultry Health references indicate that taking a chicken's temperature is not usually helpful in making a diagnosis and is uncomfortable and stressful to an ill chicken. And most ill or injured chickens are usually hypothermic.

IMO make your decisions on whether the rooster is ill by how he acts and by a physical examination and don't try taking a temperature.
 
Thank you...Yes the bird has other symptoms and he went to the vet already. The vet told right away marek disease but I suggested the lead poisoning or lack of vit B..so he let us try some treatment before putting him down. The vet didn't give me any antibiotic but just some anti-inflammatory and then 4 shots of calcium EDTA. He got better with the calcium EDTA, but went downhill after we stop the shots. He feels hot, and he's going back to the vet on monday for Xrays but I think the vet took too much time to act, and I'm afraid it's too late, because even if we remove any lead, the damage may be irreversible?...However I need to know if it's heavy metal poisoning or not. Other question:is there a way to find out if a bird is healthy carrier for marek disease? ( T cell in blood work?). The vet was not able to answer my question, but I need to know as I wanted to give some of my birds away..I can't do it, if they are susceptible to carry the marek virus. Thank you agan for the quick response!
 
Thank you everyone. I know there is something else in my little rooster...We already went to the vet about a week ago. It can be marek disease , heavy metal poisoning or vit. B deficiency...It responded positively to the calcium EDTA shots, but the vet gave me only 2 days of supply...and since then he's going down hill. He has some anti inflammatory, but not antibiotics, and I believe he's running a fever now. Going back to the vet on monday, but I'm afraid it's too late to save him as even if its lead poisoning the damage is done.
Is there a test that can be perform to make sure it's marek disease? ( Tcell?)

thank you
 
Thank you everyone. I know there is something else in my little rooster...We already went to the vet about a week ago. It can be marek disease , heavy metal poisoning or vit. B deficiency...It responded positively to the calcium EDTA shots, but the vet gave me only 2 days of supply...and since then he's going down hill. He has some anti inflammatory, but not antibiotics, and I believe he's running a fever now. Going back to the vet on monday, but I'm afraid it's too late to save him as even if its lead poisoning the damage is done.
Is there a test that can be perform to make sure it's marek disease? ( Tcell?)

thank you
I think there are blood tests for Mareks that the vet can perform. However you can detect it yourself sometimes. Look into his eyes. Compare his pupils with other healthy birds. If his pupils are not completely round and look out of round or oval, he most likely does have Mareks.

Mareks causes slow progression of paralysis all over the body. Many times it starts in the wings and the bird will start to drag them. Sometimes it starts in the legs and they stumble like they are drunk. Other times it starts in the kidneys or liver and they shut down. But eventually the entire bird becomes paralyzes and dies. Unfortunately there is no cure for Mareks and few birds survive.

If this does turn out to be Mareks, and it is contagious, you might want to start over with a new flock. Start on completely new grounds as your grounds are now contaminated and start with chicks from hatcheries that have been vaccinated for Mareks. Nearly all of them offer this as a service before they send the chicks to you. This vaccination will not stop them from contracting Mareks, however it will eliminate much of the symptoms and the birds normally do survive this virus over time with very little illness.
 
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(I wish the circumstances were better)

I'm sorry your rooster is ill. The other posters have given you some good advice and a link to the emergency forum so all I can do is wish you good luck, I hope he gets better.
 

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