5 or 6 year old rooster unable to walk/tremors?

[rbc-bow-chicka]

Yesterday, 5-6 year old bantam la fleche rooster jumped down from the coop and immediately lost balance when he landed. He is (was) the alpha of 2 roosters in the same coop.

Very unsteady walking.... when watching his stride, he put one foot directly in front of the other (think supermodel catwalk) versus the side by side stance normally seen. He was also getting hung up in the chicken wire that separates their run from the next one over. Not sure if he was just running into it with his odd stride or just couldn't see it.

I set up a hospital cage down in the run (I was concerned about trying to reintegrate with other roo after well again), but he was getting no rest at all, so I brought him up and figured I'd cross the reintegration bridge when and if we got there.

I gave him a physical... no mites or lice. He gave me a normal poop yesterday when I brought him up so he seemed to be eating and drinking while he was in his run. He did eat a little scrambled egg and quail crumble. He seems to be able to move his feet some, but it is his upper legs that are not cooperating from what I can tell. Partial paralysis? He is not standing at all now. He ate a little bit yesterday, nothing today. I tried to assist him in drinking some poultry drench/electrolytes- he took some, and then eventually just stopped. While wrapped in my lap, I cold feel him trembling. The roosters in particular are not fond of being held, but I do not think this is fear.

Any ideas of what I could be dealing with here?

Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added any new birds to the flock recently who could have been carrying a disease? When you try to put your finger onto the bottom of his foot pad, will he grasp your finger? I would observe him for an injury. He needs to be right next to his food and water, and I would offer it to him a couple of times a day. Egg and tuna, and wet chicken feed are good to offer. A tonic such as Poultry Cell or Nutridrench can be given to him orally 1-2 ml daily into his beak or food. A chicken sling might be helpful while he is unable to stand or walk. This link, especially posts 5, 11, qnd 12 are good to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

 

[rbc-bow-chicka]

Have you added any new birds to the flock recently who could have been carrying a disease? When you try to put your finger onto the bottom of his foot pad, will he grasp your finger? I would observe him for an injury. He needs to be right next to his food and water, and I would offer it to him a couple of times a day. Egg and tuna, and wet chicken feed are good to offer. A tonic such as Poultry Cell or Nutridrench can be given to him orally 1-2 ml daily into his beak or food. A chicken sling might be helpful while he is unable to stand or walk. This link, especially posts 5, 11, qnd 12 are good

Hello and thank you so much for your prompt reply. I apologize for not answering sooner as I realized I didn't really know how well his feet were responding to anything.

No, we have not added any new birds to the flock.

Yesterday.... his feet were pretty much not responsive. He was just kind of flopped over on his side, legs outstretched with these tremors that were happening intermittently. I gave him droppers of poultry drench diluted in water with some electrolyte mixed in. On occasion he would eat.... and occasion, he would drink with me touching his beak to the edge of his waterer.

Today however, he is kind of propped up more... on his own... with his feet underneath him. His feet are responsive... flexing... vs what they were yesterday which were just rather curled. I would not say that he is mobile by any stretch. He also was feeling well enough to get irritated with me forcing him to drink. So I put him back in the hospital and spread some crumble next to him, which he was observed pecking at. As an aside... his poop looks pretty normal, all things considered.

I guess I will just continue to let this play out and offer nursing care and observation for the next couple of days. He doesn't look as horrible as he did yesterday, so that has to count for something.

Thank you again and thank you for the link to the sling. That looks like something that could help keep him upright.