9-month Rooster Lethargic & Darkened Comb

[codydelaney]

Thank you for all your help. Unfortunately, our rooster died in the night. Still not entirely sure what caused it, maybe a seizure or heart attack based on our reading? Anyways, thanks for your advice.

 

[MARANMAN2011]

Sorry to hear

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry to hear about your rooster.

The only way to get an idea of what caused his rapid decline would be to have a necropsy.
If you still have the body, refrigerate it and make arrangements to take or send it to your state lab. https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[azygous]

Sorry you lost him. Were these symptoms sudden and did they come on immediately after the sudden drop in temperature? If so, he may have become hypothermic, a life threatening condition. If you ever have a chicken go lethargic and behave drunkenly following an extreme temperature drop, give the chicken warm sugar water and electrolytes immediately and warm the chicken's wing pits and breast with a warm hair dryer to restore normal body temperature.

 

[codydelaney]

Sorry you lost him. Were these symptoms sudden and did they come on immediately after the sudden drop in temperature? If so, he may have become hypothermic, a life threatening condition. If you ever have a chicken go lethargic and behave drunkenly following an extreme temperature drop, give the chicken warm sugar water and electrolytes immediately and warm the chicken's wing pits and breast with a warm hair dryer to restore normal body temperature.

That is good to keep in mind. Thank you!

 

[Trish1947]

Our rooster is sick as of this morning and we would love any advice on how to help him:

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.): 9 month barred rock rooster (~20lbs).
2) What is the behavior, exactly: lethargic, haven’t seen his poop to know if he has diarrhea, nonresponsive, darkened and dried comb, not drinking or eating, lying down.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? Started this morning but has gotten much worse by this evening.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? We have 5 other hens in our flock, none of which are exhibiting symptoms.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma: No signs of injury or trauma.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation: the only thing we can think of is we have had a mice issue in our coop.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all: normally drinks water and eats chicken pellets & leftovers but hasn’t eaten or drank at all today.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. We haven’t seen his poop.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? We separated him from the coop in a warm kennel with his own food and water.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? We would like to treat him on our own as we don’t have much money for a vet trip.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help. I’ve attached photos for reference.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use: our coop is a metal shed with pine shavings and a couple roosts. There is plenty of space for our chickens and access to food and water, plus we have a heat lamp since it is winter where we live.

Thank you for any advice you might have. We are first time chicken owners so this is new to us, but we are doing our best!

Our rooster is doing exactly what yours is. I am at a loss

 

[azygous]

Our rooster is doing exactly what yours is. I am at a loss

Your little guy has substantial frost bite and probably is in a lot of pain. If he experienced very cold temps for long enough, he may also be suffering hypothermia. Give him warm sugar water, one teaspoon sugar to a cup of water, with a pinch of salt and baking soda or warm up some Gatoraid and have him drink it over the next 24 hours.

Also, warm him. Use a warmed towel or a warm hair dryer on him, concentrating on his breast and wing pits.