Rooster loosing weight, not feeling well PICTURES ATTACHED

adni02

Chirping
6 Years
Feb 4, 2013
320
10
93
Hi this is my blue cochin rooster (LF) about 14 months old.


About a month back he stated developing some breathing problems. I was hearing some crackling sounds when he breath. I was recommended to treat him with Levofloxacin and Prednisone for three days. I did that and his breathing problem was solved.
Ok one more thing my roo was never very heavy or meaty. he was more on the lighter side on the weight scale, but he was crowing and crossing with females fine.
About a month back he stated to loose weight as his chest bone was very prominent and no meat around it could be felt. He stopped crowing and crossing with females. Eating less. I tried some homeopathic medicine for this issue but he is becoming worst every day. Today i took some pictures of his head and droppings to share here so i can be advised properly.


When i got him he was about 10 months old and head yellow beak and legs but now they are whitish. HIs comb dropped when he developed breathing problem and still you can see some spikes are not straight.






I took some pictures (above) of his poop this morning.





This is how his poop looked like (above) when i checked him about an hour ago.
So i took him to his coop and gave him some bread soaked in milk. I asked my brother what was he using to treat him and he told me that he was giving him one table spoon Augmentin Syrup in one liter of water for last three days and will continue for four more days as his friend did the same when his hen stared to lose weight.
So this is my story. Can some one help me with this, as i am unable to decide what to do. I dont want to loose this Roo. Any help will be appreciated.



Here is picture of his vent which i forgot to post.









 
Last edited:
I'm not sure what it is as it could be any number of things.
when was he wormed last?
what is he eating? you will need to get some high carb and protein feed into him, growers pellets, wild bird seed is a great thing to gain weight, and meat scraps which are also good for iron. A multi vit wouldn't go astray either
 
He was wormed in mid July. I am feeding him different things like bread soaked in milk. veggies. Layers feed but no meat scraps.
 
Last edited:
Bread has virtually no nutritional value, its more of a filler. High carb and protein is a better bet, even mushed up soaked cat biskit/ jelly meat or dog roll works
 
Not a vet, but I'd like to gather more information so maybe someone can advise......When was the last time you wormed your chickens? Have you read the side effects for levofloxacin? Does any of the side effects match his symptoms? Do any of you other chickens have any symptoms or issues? Have you checked him for mites and lice? How is his breathing now? Is he drinking good?
 
He had lice but got rid of them last month. Breathing is fine. Drinking water but not much.
 
Is his crop emptying properly (do you know how to check)?

The bright green droppings usually indicate that that his body is lacking nutrition-- in other words, starving. I have seen this in sick birds that have either gone off of their feed due to illness, or are having digestive or other organ failure, which keeps nutrition from being properly absorbed. Unless you are able to take him to a vet for testing, it's very hard to know what is going on with him, internally. Have any of your other chickens been sick or had problems within the last 6 months to a year?

If he were mine, and I was unable to get him to a knowledgeable vet, I'd check his crop. Then isolate him in an area where I could monitor him, and offer nutritious foods (cooked egg is a good one, as are mealworms, etc) that are most easily absorbed by the body. Cold pressed coconut oil is supposed to benefit absorption of vitamins, but only offer a little bit until you know what is wrong with him. If you have any game bird feed or flock raiser feed that is higher in protien it would benefit him more than layer feed.

If you can, trim his fluff under his vent so he has less issue with sticking droppings. At least for now. Use bluntly-tipped scissors so that you don't risk harming him.

I personally would avoid 'common' treatments suggested on BYC such as apple cider vinegar. I love ACV but until you know why he is ill, it could do him more harm than good. If you want to offer a probiotic, use a powdered supplement or a bit of buttermilk. But only if you know his crop is emptying properly.

Check him over again carefully for lice, just to make sure.

Let us know how he eats and drinks when presented with 'goodies' such as mealworms or cooked egg. Most chickens really enjoy these foods.
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom