Capon gasping and seizuring

[PurpleCArTires]

Hi Guys,

I just did a batch of capons on Saturday (3 days ago). I have them recovering in a tractor with attached enclosed coop. They were all doing great this morning - eating, drinking, and chirping away. I check on them this evening before locking up my other chickens for the night and notice one feathers puffed up and gasping. I grabbed him up and noticed no rattling. He is only slightly puffy around his surgery wound, but its only air under the skin. The scab looks great, no signs of infection.

So i brought him inside and put him in a dog crate under a towel. I massaged his crop, it feels soft and squishy but sorta like a slightly inflated balloon. I tried to give him water and he wanted no part of it. I gave him some VetRX on his chest incase its respiratory.

I left him alone for maybe 10 minutes and came back to find him having what I think is a seizure. He was flopping like crazy, i thought for sure he was dead and it was his body convulsions. But lo and behold he was still alive. He had another about 5 mins later and is still alive. He is just sitting there (on his feet) gasping.

What is happening with this poor guy?? Is there anything i can do for him??

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Reposted in Emergency Section

 

[CaroleW]

@Poco Pollo or @CindyinSD might have some advice.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Unfortunately he passed away last night. and i lost another today. on the other thread, they are thinking its shock effecting them even days later

The rest are on electrolytes and praying they are going to be ok <3

 

[Ruby Rogue]

Sorry about your chickens

Just wondering where you found someone to do this surgery. How much did it cost?

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I do it myself. No one in my area would teach me (or does it anymore), so i used youtube videos and forum threads to learn. its pretty easy, but you gotta take your time. I do it so we can eat our males. I dont like rooster since its soo stringy, but the capons are supposed to get fattier. I actually havent harvested any yet, but i have some on the menu for the end of this month, so i'll get to see the difference.

this is the first time i've lost a chicken like this, its so bizarre because they have been 100% fine for the last 3 days, and then two die in less than 24 hours. i dont get it

 

[PurpleCArTires]

i know these guys were destined for the dinner table, but i still hate loosing anything before its time

 

[Mimi13]

I process my extra cockerels between 12 and 24 weeks old and I have yet to have any stringy meat and they all made a decent carcass. At what age will you process your capons?

 

[PurpleCArTires]

They will be about 16 weeks. If they arent fat enough, i am going to wait a little longer.

My chickens are free range and muscular lol. I dont know if thats why they were so stringy. These guys will be contained for 2 weeks before and hopefully fattened up some more.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

I process my extra cockerels between 12 and 24 weeks old and I have yet to have any stringy meat and they all made a decent carcass. At what age will you process your capons?

What breed do you have? Mine are RIR amd at 20 weeks they were still pretty slim. I am hoping the caponize will fatten them up too