7 year old rooster with vision issue

[firerunner]

Let me preface this by saying I am just looking for ideas, Nugget will be seeing our vet, tomorrow.

Nugget is a 7.5 year old buff rooster. Recently we have noticed he is having vision problems. His eyes LOOK clear to me, He is eating well, (this morning we literally had to show him the food) yet he is struggling to see.

The red around his eyes (like the wattle/cone skin that red) is very hot to touch, and that red skin area (hope that makes sense) is what seems IMO to be causing his eyes to stay shut (on one side) and partially open on the other. Can this be an infection?


Anyone had any experience with this?

thanks!!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Let me preface this by saying I am just looking for ideas, Nugget will be seeing our vet, tomorrow.

Nugget is a 7.5 year old buff rooster. Recently we have noticed he is having vision problems. His eyes LOOK clear to me, He is eating well, (this morning we literally had to show him the food) yet he is struggling to see.

The red around his eyes (like the wattle/cone skin that red) is very hot to touch, and that red skin area (hope that makes sense) is what seems IMO to be causing his eyes to stay shut (on one side) and partially open on the other. Can this be an infection?


Anyone had any experience with this?

thanks!!

7.5 year old rooster?!

You must be doing something right and he MUST be a good boy. Sorry he is having trouble.

I only clicked on this because his name was Nugget... so original!

I lost my boy Nugget to a suspected choking accident this past week. Middle of the day heard a loud honking and he was belly up under the feeder when I found him, despite dancing at other boys in my stag pen and being completely normal earlier in the day. He was also a VERY good boy, almost 2 years old. This post is the first tears I have shed for his loss. Most my birds are livestock and we process boys regularly. Even ladies when need be. But I guess, some are special. I'm sorry do you mind sharing what you feed if you get time?

Yes, the heat you are sensing is an indicator there is an infection of some sort and the body is fighting to keep it at bay, at least trying. I will have no pertinent information other than he won't starve to death before tomorrow, but make sure to keep him hydrated... as ALL bodily functions depend on hydration! Keeping him in a smaller segregation might be helpful if it doesn't just stress him out more than being with his flock.

This is a valuable learning experience. Even if I can't help you, thank you for sharing that it might help someone in the future.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you talking about the conjunctiva around the eyes being really inflammed? How is the air inside your coop? Do you notice any ammonia odor, excessive dust, or mold? What type of bedding are you using, and have you changed the type of bedding recently? Pictures can be helpful.

 

[firerunner]

Are you talking about the conjunctiva around the eyes being really inflammed? How is the air inside your coop? Do you notice any ammonia odor, excessive dust, or mold? What type of bedding are you using, and have you changed the type of bedding recently? Pictures can be helpful.

Ok so my birds..are sorta kinda spoiled..Their coop is huge, drywalled and insulated with windows & screens (gotta keep the bugs out) , nesting boxes have matching curtains, and I pooper scoop it every week. No mold, no amonia, and the run is dirt cause they have eaten all the grass.. We have two coops & runs one for Nugget and his girls and one for Gandolf and his girls.

The run is all hardware wire and it is covered also, (so no wild birds can drop their droppings into the pen)

I will try to grab a pic of Nugget when we go out in an hour or so (and the coop) but see Nugget is a funny boy, if you pick him up he goes limp in your arms. literally. Acts dead, closes his eyes and everything. He has been like that since the day we got him as a chick. So I will have to try to get one of him when he is standing on the ground.

He feels heavy , muscular, no funny breathing, everything looks normal.

 

[firerunner]

7.5 year old rooster?!

You must be doing something right and he MUST be a good boy. Sorry he is having trouble.

I only clicked on this because his name was Nugget... so original!

I lost my boy Nugget to a suspected choking accident this past week. Middle of the day heard a loud honking and he was belly up under the feeder when I found him, despite dancing at other boys in my stag pen and being completely normal earlier in the day. He was also a VERY good boy, almost 2 years old. This post is the first tears I have shed for his loss. Most my birds are livestock and we process boys regularly. Even ladies when need be. But I guess, some are special. I'm sorry do you mind sharing what you feed if you get time?

Yes, the heat you are sensing is an indicator there is an infection of some sort and the body is fighting to keep it at bay, at least trying. I will have no pertinent information other than he won't starve to death before tomorrow, but make sure to keep him hydrated... as ALL bodily functions depend on hydration! Keeping him in a smaller segregation might be helpful if it doesn't just stress him out more than being with his flock.

This is a valuable learning experience. Even if I can't help you, thank you for sharing that it might help someone in the future.

Aww am sorry you lost your Nugget, it is so sad when that happens. I had Nugget into the vets last year to trim his beak and His spur and my vet keeps warning me that my birds are going to pass soon to be prepared. I have Nugget, Bazinga, Cinnamon and Lucy all 7.5 years of age. Cuddles, Precious, Eggnog and Matilda are 6 years old and the reminder are 5 and under.

I feed them All organic food, even their meal worms are organic

Their coop has a big sign on it says The Egg Plant and then all their names are hanging on little plaques under it LOL

Ya a little spoiled but they are my pets really.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I feed them All organic food, even their meal worms are organic

Your set up sounds lovely! You're chooks probably don't give a rats' patooty about the plaques and curtains... but I'm THINKING someone else might be a little spoiled.

Do you use a formulated ration? Layer or what type? What is your protein and calcium % is what I really wanna know. And do you mind sharing what breeds? Are they hatchery stock? Are meal worms your main treat or do you toss scratch type stuff? And how often do you feed meal worms and how much? SORRY! I should have asked you start another thread. I just think nutrition is so key but curious what role your genetics are playing. The fact that you give them a good safe and clean environment I'm sure is a huge factor. One other consideration... how are your weather extremes? And with so many spreading that layer feed causes kidney failure in roosters... I gotta know. Have you ever treated for lice or worms? You OBVIOUSLY do see the vet... is that a regular occurrence and are they avian? And prying minds wanna know what kind of egg production you get.

Get that dirt switched over to deep litter style. I don't leave droppings but I like the concept... bare dirt is a breeding ground for infection in poultry. Lot's of droppings with no good bacterial colonies to keep it in check. Even though ALL waste is removed, lets face it... the moisture in the waste goes SOMEWHERE. SO I use grass clippings, used pine shavings from my brooders, pine needles, leaves, hay... anything I can to make the ground more like the forest floor. Pesticide and herbicide free of course. It is a constant renewal process... and a pain in the rear to not just mulch my 1 acre lawn. But when it rains the difference between this and bare dirt is instantly noticeable. Aside from not being muddy... it doesn't stink to high heaven. My edges still got wet in my covered runs. All the debris invite bacterial and yes bug colonies to come and thrive. It gives your birds great enrichment factor to be able to scratch and look for and find bugs to eat... not that you need any advice from me!

I have heard some birds live to 10 years and even lay the random egg here or there. So you vet is probably right, I mean ain't none of us getting outta here alive... BUT... No need to worry... just keep doing whatever you have been, it seems to be working well for you.

And you didn't even have BYC at your disposal previously. Don't go getting a big head though. I'm just excited for you. I hope your boy has a good visit with the vet and live many more happy years with you.

BTW, the dead act is brilliant! MANY predators (like domestic dogs) don't care about dead stuff. I'd like to see a short video of it... I think ya gotta use you tube or vimeo to upload it.

I never heard of beak trimming before, but it sounds like if it weren't humane and needed you wouldn't have done it.

 

[firerunner]

Backkkkkkkkkk..Visit to the vets 107 bucks later and we have an infection!! This morning the eye was finally runny YAH, I was worried we were dealing with cataracts or something.

So they weighed my boy he is 7 pounds 12 ounces, bacteria showed in the slide under the microscope, but not sure what we will know that when the lab gets back to us.

So he is on eye drops and antibiotics and we trimmed his beak AGAIN. I swear NONE of my others birds have beaks like Nuggets, His grows and grows and curls under so it is hard for him to eat. Vet uses dog clippers and just trims off the end (not to far up or it could hurt them just like if you trim a dogs nails too far up)

Ok Eggsightedforlife LOl your questions

Feed Not sure of the formula it is the Scratch and Peck Layer feed , i was told it was the best on the market. They also get meal worms, scratch grain, they have lettuce balls they get, grits is avaialble and oyster shells. Depending on what i buy but fruits and veggies also. None of it is in excessive, other then the feed, grits and oysters sheels those are their given.

Nugget, Bazinga and Cinnamon - we bought almsot 8 years ago Nugget and Cinnamon are buffs Bazinga is a leghorn
Then we added Cuddles and Precious - Bought - Lavender Hens - 6 years old
The Gandolf, Clicken and Rose - Bought - Blue Copper Marans - 6 years old.
Then we had some babies (our own), so we added Salt and Pepper - 5 years ago
Lavern and Shirley 3 years ago
Eggnog and Matilda - 2 years ago

and this year we bought 5 chicks, Unnamed yet.

We live in Florida so ya hot..yup twice a year i treat for worms, just before winter ends and shortly before summer starts. And yes treat with diatomaceous Earth , Alwaysl Add apple cider vinegar and garlic to their water.

vet - LOL i have alot of animals squirrels, flying squirrels, turtles, tortoises, Kois (bigs guys 26 to 30 inches long yup vet has seen them too!) So yes regular occurrence in this house. If we cant treat it fix it ourselves then we see the vet.

Anyways hope that answered some of your questions I have been on BYC for a few years. Read it alot, just rarely post

off to feed the animals and do chores!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Wow, very unexpected answers!

Do you have your vet run fecals before and after you treat with DE? Maybe you just don't have worms.

You are a great example that NOT all birds fed layer who don't lay will suffer from kidney failure. In some it just causes a really great beak. (kidding the beak is probably keratin, just guessing)

Hope you see recovery quick in Nugget's eyes!

Thank you TONS for sharing your other info too. It was absolutely fascinating and very informative.