PLEASE HELP - My only rooster (Barred Rock, 7 mos.) in my flock of 20 hens (mixed B.R., RIR, R.S., B.S.) got sick yesterday. I went to let them out of their coop yesterday. I noticed in the morning that I didn't hear him crow. When I got to the coop he was standing at the back of the coop by himself. All the girls ran out as usual but he just stood there. I called him and he finally came to me but was walking slowly. He looked like he was drunk. He seemed very lethargic. He made it out of the coop but just wandered. Didn't seem interested in feeding at all. Normally he follows me over to the red cherry tomatoes for his usual treat and our bonding time. I noticed he had a little poop but it was a small squirt of diarrhea and it was bright yellow. Next I saw him standing next to the garden shed with his face about 1" away from it just staring at it. I put some feed in my hand and tried to see if he would eat. He wasn't interested.
When I read posts on the forum there were so many different ideas for his type of symptoms. I am not sure if he is plugged up or has diarrhea. Then this morning when we got to the coop my husband caught him and held him for 30 minutes. He massaged his crop area and neck. He loved it. I noticed that he had labored breathing. I tried to feed him a little bread with olive oil and he ate one bite and I noticed when he swallowed that he had difficulty after swallowing like he was having trouble breathing. Then, as my husband was rubbing his neck we noticed a clear liquid coming from his left nostril. I noticed that his other nostril was kind of stained as if he had a runny nose at some point. Was he trying to swallow something like flem? He sounded weezy. Our weather turned from 74 to the mid 50's in one day as a cold storm moved in. (We are in Central CA.) Could a drastic change in weather cause him to get sick like this?
I purchased them from McMurray Hatchery in May and they were inoculated for all diseases that they could be. Not sure if that makes a difference in your deduction of his problem but thought I would mention it.
Please help. I don't want to lose him. My husband says I should have been prepared. I was raised on a ranch and harvest deer and elk every year. I have raised my own beef since I was a kid. Why am I so attached to these little creatures? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
When I read posts on the forum there were so many different ideas for his type of symptoms. I am not sure if he is plugged up or has diarrhea. Then this morning when we got to the coop my husband caught him and held him for 30 minutes. He massaged his crop area and neck. He loved it. I noticed that he had labored breathing. I tried to feed him a little bread with olive oil and he ate one bite and I noticed when he swallowed that he had difficulty after swallowing like he was having trouble breathing. Then, as my husband was rubbing his neck we noticed a clear liquid coming from his left nostril. I noticed that his other nostril was kind of stained as if he had a runny nose at some point. Was he trying to swallow something like flem? He sounded weezy. Our weather turned from 74 to the mid 50's in one day as a cold storm moved in. (We are in Central CA.) Could a drastic change in weather cause him to get sick like this?
I purchased them from McMurray Hatchery in May and they were inoculated for all diseases that they could be. Not sure if that makes a difference in your deduction of his problem but thought I would mention it.
Please help. I don't want to lose him. My husband says I should have been prepared. I was raised on a ranch and harvest deer and elk every year. I have raised my own beef since I was a kid. Why am I so attached to these little creatures? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
