Sick Rooster

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domico62

domico62

In the Brooder
Sep 27, 2016
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Hi Everyone, I have been reading posts on BYC for years regarding any questions I had pertaining to my small flock, with great success. I am posting today hopeful that someone can help me. I have a 3 to 4 year old jersey giant /Sussex rooster. About 2 weeks ago I noticed that he was walking wobbly I thought it was because his spurs were to long so I cut them back. The next day he was having a hard time standing and the following day when I opened the coop door he came running out but ran into the fence, he got up and tried again and ran into the house. It was like if you or I were to spin in a circle and tried to walk afterwards, that's what it reminded me of. He cannot walk at all now, he can stand briefing with my assistance for balance and then he either falls on his side or face first. He is eating and drinking fine with my assistanc. He is crowing as usual. I have contacted 3 different people that I know that have been raising chickens for a long time and got three different opinions,from Ear Infection, Internal Parasites and one person said West Nile Virus. I have him separate from rest of flock, which is only 3 others. I've checked his ears and they seem clear with no smell, no injury. I had him on tetracycline for 4 or 5 days with no results. I dewormed him 2 days ago. Been giving him oatmeal, honey,yogurt, catfood mix and he eats well, electrilyte/vitamin in water. It has been 6 days and he still the same. Anyone please!
 
domico62 said:
Hi Everyone, I have been reading posts on BYC for years regarding any questions I had pertaining to my small flock, with great success. I am posting today hopeful that someone can help me. I have a 3 to 4 year old jersey giant /Sussex rooster. About 2 weeks ago I noticed that he was walking wobbly I thought it was because his spurs were to long so I cut them back. The next day he was having a hard time standing and the following day when I opened the coop door he came running out but ran into the fence, he got up and tried again and ran into the house. It was like if you or I were to spin in a circle and tried to walk afterwards, that's what it reminded me of. He cannot walk at all now, he can stand briefing with my assistance for balance and then he either falls on his side or face first. He is eating and drinking fine with my assistanc. He is crowing as usual. I have contacted 3 different people that I know that have been raising chickens for a long time and got three different opinions,from Ear Infection, Internal Parasites and one person said West Nile Virus. I have him separate from rest of flock, which is only 3 others. I've checked his ears and they seem clear with no smell, no injury. I had him on tetracycline for 4 or 5 days with no results. I dewormed him 2 days ago. Been giving him oatmeal, honey,yogurt, catfood mix and he eats well, electrilyte/vitamin in water. It has been 6 days and he still the same. Anyone please!
Click to expand...

Can you post some photos?

What do you normally feed?
Any signs of injury to the legs/feet (bottom of feet as well)?
Does he free range - any way he got into anything moldy/rotten ?
Have you added any new birds to your flock lately?
What does his poop look like?

Offer his normal feed or a high protein feed like all flock/flock raiser/chick starter with some hard boiled/scrambled egg, tuna, mackerel or meat added in.
Give him some poultry vitamins in his water.

Keep us posted on his progress.
 
Wyorp Rock, thanks so much for replying. I will post some pics tomorrow. I'm at work right now and to dark when I get home.
I feed flock Layena crumbles and occasionally table scaps. I checked legs and bottom of feet and no apparent sign of injury. My chickens do free range for a few hours daily in my small back yard. I guess it could be possible that he got into something rotten. I haven't seen any carcass in yard. I am in south Florida where it is very hot and humid. No new birds in flock. Poop is brownish.
 
I have been putting electrolytes /vitamins in water. I'm wondering if I should restart him on tetracycline. I was giving him a mixture of oatmeal, honey, yogurt at same time and read that the yogurt would cause the antibiotic not to work.
 
domico62 said:
I have been putting electrolytes /vitamins in water. I'm wondering if I should restart him on tetracycline. I was giving him a mixture of oatmeal, honey, yogurt at same time and read that the yogurt would cause the antibiotic not to work.
Click to expand...

In hot weather he could be dehydrated and not eating enough. Make sure he is well hydrated. He needs to eat his regular food, it may be better to give him an all flock/flock raiser formula instead of layer pellets, too much calcium in a rooster's can cause kidney damage. Oatmeal, honey and yogurt may be fine for a small treat, but is does not have enough protein or nutrition to sustain a chicken.

Giving an antibiotic without knowing what is causing his illness may not be the best course of action.
 
Will the all flock /flock be alright for laying hens? If it's dehydration what would I have to do to get him up and running? I'm feeding him by hand food /water as I'm not sure he's getting to his water or food in coop. He drinks and eats quite a bit and clucks while eating. Should I continue with electrolyte in water?
 
domico62 said:
Will the all flock /flock be alright for laying hens? If it's dehydration what would I have to do to get him up and running? I'm feeding him by hand food /water as I'm not sure he's getting to his water or food in coop. He drinks and eats quite a bit and clucks while eating. Should I continue with electrolyte in water?
Click to expand...

You can feed the girls an all flock formula, just provide oyster shell free choice for them (this is what I feed all of mine).

Offer electrolytes for a day or so, then give some poultry vitamins for a couple of days. You may want to separate him with his own food and water, this way he doesn't have to try to go into the coop since he is having trouble maneuvering. A dog kennel or crate set up in the run works well, take him out at night and place him in the coop with the girls.
 
I already have him separate from the rest of flock. He is a really big rooster and kinda hard getting him in and out of coop, I worry I will stress him. I have him in a coop attached to my larger coop that is sectioned off. He has his own food and water. The electrolytes I'm giving him is labeled "electrolytes /vitamin for poultry. People say to give rooster booster, but wasn't sure which one, there were 3 different kinds of rooster booster and no one in feed store to help. I can't put him with others as I have a small Silky rooster that will pick on him. I apologize for sounding so nivea regarding the health of my chickens, but have never had any severe issues in the 6 years I've had chickens. I appreciate all your advice.
 
Hello and welcome to Backyard chickens, I am sorry it is not under better circumstances though! Wyorp rock is giving you great advice, so I will just say hello and good luck with your big guy!
 
domico62 said:
I already have him separate from the rest of flock. He is a really big rooster and kinda hard getting him in and out of coop, I worry I will stress him. I have him in a coop attached to my larger coop that is sectioned off. He has his own food and water. The electrolytes I'm giving him is labeled "electrolytes /vitamin for poultry. People say to give rooster booster, but wasn't sure which one, there were 3 different kinds of rooster booster and no one in feed store to help. I can't put him with others as I have a small Silky rooster that will pick on him. I apologize for sounding so nivea regarding the health of my chickens, but have never had any severe issues in the 6 years I've had chickens. I appreciate all your advice.
Click to expand...

If it's an electrolyte/vitamin combo you can give that for a few days.
There are several Rooster Boosters formulas for sure
smile.png
You can use Rooster Booster Poultry Cell or Poultry Nutri-Drench. I have used the Nutri-Drench it seems to work well, have heard good things about the Poultry Cell too.

No apologies needed! 6yrs with no major problems you are doing very well!
 

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