Bantam Rooster with pecked eyes

[monica_youngblood]

Four weeks ago we were gifted 10 chickens - 1 Bantam rooster, 1 Bantam hen, 8 full size hens (Rhode Island Reds & Red Rangers). We had them in a makeshift coop to let them get acclimated to our place. Then the next week they gave use their remaining 3 (1 Bantam rooster & 2 Silver Wyandottes). They said they all got along so we put them in the same coop. Two days later we found the older rooster beat up and turned them all out to free range. The older rooster's head was very bloody and both eyes swollen, but didn't see any other damage. I've been doctoring him as I found online and he seems to be doing pretty good concerning what happened. We have him in a mini-coop by himself. He has just started trying to eat on his own and I have yet to see him drink. I go out several times a day and hold him to put his beak in a bowl so he will drink. I have his food in an open low sided bowl and his water in a shiny pie pan thinking maybe he could see a glimmer of it. I also have put him in the garden (it is fenced) so he can get some dirt. He just mostly lays down. My question is how long until his eyesight returns? At this time he is totally blind. I can put my finger right beside his eye and he doesn't flinch. Light/shadows don't phase him. I know he will not be able to return to free range, but still feel bad about his quality of life and am wondering if he needs to be put down. Thank you for any advice.

 

[monica_youngblood]

He would not keep his right eye open long enough to get a good picture, but it is very black. It went clear for a little while then back black. His left eye has some color almost like a normal eye.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Poor Guy!
How's he doing?
To me, it looks like he has lost his left eye. Only time will tell how much use of his right eye is left.
Keep tending to his eyes and wounds like you have been.
Placing food/water in the same area like you are doing is a good idea, he *should* learn to adapt to his surroundings and find the food water.
Do make sure he's eating/drinking well, check to see he's filling his crop at night.

He may benefit from some extra protein like egg, fish or meat. Poultry vitamins once a week for several weeks may also give him a boost.

 

[monica_youngblood]

Poor Guy!
How's he doing?
To me, it looks like he has lost his left eye. Only time will tell how much use of his right eye is left.
Keep tending to his eyes and wounds like you have been.
Placing food/water in the same area like you are doing is a good idea, he *should* learn to adapt to his surroundings and find the food water.
Do make sure he's eating/drinking well, check to see he's filling his crop at night.

He may benefit from some extra protein like egg, fish or meat. Poultry vitamins once a week for several weeks may also give him a boost.

Thanks for advice.

I think he is losing weight. I'll find a way to get him some protein & check into poultry vitamins.

He seems to be filling himself with the scratch grains and laying pellets I have been putting in there. I also have put him in the garden some so he can get some dirt in him. (I don't think he is pecking through the grass under this coop, it is too thick.) I still haven't seen him drinking on his own yet, but hoping.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are you syringing water into him then if you don't see him drinking?

You can try giving him a wet mash made out of the feed to help get some fluids into him as well.
Him losing weight is concerning. Likely it's due to the injuries and having to adjust to limited sight, but consider getting a fecal float to see if worms might be an issue too.

 

[monica_youngblood]

Are you syringing water into him then if you don't see him drinking?

You can try giving him a wet mash made out of the feed to help get some fluids into him as well.
Him losing weight is concerning. Likely it's due to the injuries and having to adjust to limited sight, but consider getting a fecal float to see if worms might be an issue too

Are you syringing water into him then if you don't see him drinking?

You can try giving him a wet mash made out of the feed to help get some fluids into him as well.
Him losing weight is concerning. Likely it's due to the injuries and having to adjust to limited sight, but consider getting a fecal float to see if worms might be an issue too.

 

[monica_youngblood]

I am holding him and putting his beak into water. He drinks. When he stops, I put him down. I was giving him Gatorade and then read he shouldn't have it more than a few days. Also was giving a little ACV with his water. Oh...and gave him a watery mash of microgreens.

 

[Weeg]

I think your doing everything right so far. Using a product like Terramycin might help his eyes heal. I believe you can get it at TSC.
Nice work getting him drinking, I agree that getting a fecal float might be a good idea for the weight loss. I agree with everything else said above, you have great advice so far.
Only thing I want to add is, have you consdiered using a pain killer? I can imagine it's really painful for him. You can pop 1/2 a baby aspirin down his beak, or dissolve it in water. To open his mouth, pinch either the edges, top or bottom. There might be some head throwing, and fighting, but repeat until he stops. Pop the Aspirin in his beak and it will go down like candy.
Good luck with your roo! I do hope he recovers, and think there is a good chance he will.

 

[monica_youngblood]

I think your doing everything right so far. Using a product like Terramycin might help his eyes heal. I believe you can get it at TSC.
Nice work getting him drinking, I agree that getting a fecal float might be a good idea for the weight loss. I agree with everything else said above, you have great advice so far.
Only thing I want to add is, have you consdiered using a pain killer? I can imagine it's really painful for him. You can pop 1/2 a baby aspirin down his beak, or dissolve it in water. To open his mouth, pinch either the edges, top or bottom. There might be some head throwing, and fighting, but repeat until he stops. Pop the Aspirin in his beak and it will go down like candy.
Good luck with your roo! I do hope he recovers, and think there is a good chance he will.

Thanks for explaining how to open his beak. I've been trying with no luck.

 

[monica_youngblood]

Are you syringing water into him then if you don't see him drinking?

You can try giving him a wet mash made out of the feed to help get some fluids into him as well.
Him losing weight is concerning. Likely it's due to the injuries and having to adjust to limited sight, but consider getting a fecal float to see if worms might be an issue too.

thank you.