Cockerel laying down with head cocked to the side

Date sort Score sort
AtlantisPeeps

AtlantisPeeps

Songster
5 Years
May 19, 2014
630
44
113
US
My GLW cockerel was fine yesterday, but today when I looked in the coop, he was laying down with his head cocked to the left, and he won't put ANY pressure on his left leg. His eyes are wide open, no droopy wings. I don't know what's wrong! Help!

EDIT: We put him in a cat crate and brought him inside to stay warm. Both of his eyes are responsive so I don't think its a brain infection. My thought is that one of the other roosters attacked him and knocked him into the coop wall pretty hard... What should I do???
 
Last edited:
Can he stand or walk? Does he hold the leg up or drag it? He may have wry neck, which may be caused by a vitamin deficiency, a head injury, or from certain diseases such as Mareks or others. Mareks can also cause paralysis of one of both legs, wings, or the neck. I would keep him apart from the others in a cage with food, water, and poultry vitamins in his water. Give him a little egg, chopped meat or tuna each day which contains selenium. Selenium, vitamin B1, and vitamin E are good to treat wry neck..
 
Thank you. He can't stand. Everything else but that one leg and his neck work normally. He is drinking a lot. We have his head propped up with towels. Should he survive?
 
Last edited:
Ok. Thank you so much for the information! I read it, and do not believe that it's Mareks because he doesn't match any other symptoms. His eyes are the right color, pupil the correct shape, normal stool etc... My thinking is that one of my other roosters attacked him and he hit his head. What is usually the mortallity rate for a head injury? Do you think he will make it?
 
The problem with Mareks, is that it is 4 diseases in one--each chicken may have one or more symptoms. Not all chickens have the eye problems, some eat well, some will starve themselves and have the green diarrhea. Some develop tumors inside or outside, while some have paralysis in one or both legs or wings. Drooping wings sometimes is a symptom, wry neck sometimes is one. I haven't seen a head injury in my flock, so it would be hard to tell if that is what's wrong. If he eats and drinks, and is alert, he may have a good chance to make it. Plus, not all chickens with Mareks die, but a majority can. There are many threads here on BYC to read about Mareks here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=mareks+disease
 
UPDATE!!!!

He is still in the crate. But he is now holding his head up, standing (still a bit wobbly) and eating solids! (Spinach, corn, lettuce, egg etc...) I'm hopeful he will be ready to go out with his buddies soon!
1f603.png
 
AtlantisPeeps said:
UPDATE!!!!

He is still in the crate. But he is now holding his head up, standing (still a bit wobbly) and eating solids! (Spinach, corn, lettuce, egg etc...) I'm hopeful he will be ready to go out with his buddies soon!
1f603.png
Click to expand...

Oh so good to hear that he is doing better. Please keep us updated on his condition.
 

Similar threads

karenls50
Cockerel can’t raise his head
6 7 8
Replies
71
Views
4K
karenls50
karenls50
rootandbloom
    • Sad
    • Like
Need help fast - duck attacked
5 6 7
Replies
66
Views
4K
Miss Lydia
Miss Lydia
C
Swollen Eye Infection
Replies
3
Views
363
Eggcessive
Eggcessive
Lelers0820
barred rock rooster wont move left side of body
Replies
2
Views
562
Lelers0820
Lelers0820
LaurenRitz
Possible sprain?
Replies
9
Views
659
LaurenRitz
LaurenRitz

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom