Chicken looks like he is having trouble breathing and can barely walk. Help.

[Tiggy253]

My rooster has been laying down a lot and can barely walk. He uses his wings almost as crutches to help get around. His feet look weak and his toes aren’t spread out like they should be. His tail feathers are droopy as well. It’s hot here but even when it didn’t seem that hot he had his mouth open and flares his feathers on his neck. I don’t see any wounds on his feet. His poop looks normal and his comb and wattles are still nice and red. We gave him a dewormer 5 days ago thinking maybe he had gape worm. Nothing has changed.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My rooster has been laying down a lot and can barely walk. He uses his wings almost as crutches to help get around. His feet look weak and his toes aren’t spread out like they should be.

Welcome to BYC!

Sorry you both face this!

Looks pretty young, what is his age? What is his feed including treats and supplement?

Was he vaccinated against Marek's?

This is what Marek's *can* look like.. but there are many other things that can also present with similar symptoms.. New Castle's virus, nutrient deficiency, & more.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Toes won't spread like normal standing when legs are bent. Though his toes DON'T look bent in the manner caused by *some* nutrient deficiencies. Also I expect electrolyte deficiency or imbalance would cause some lethargy or other symptoms.

Is he still eating and drinking? He must be since his poops are "normal".

Pretty boy! Hope you get answers and he recovers quickly!

What dewormer did you give him and how much.. was he lame before that or became that way after?

 

[Tiggy253]

Thanks for such a quick response. He is 19 weeks old no Mareks vaccination. He is eating and drinking still. His feed is purina start and grow medicated crumbles with the occasional treat of some meal worms. We gave him poultry dewormer which each capsule contains 6.7 mg of Fenbendazole. We gave him one pill and he was lame before it.

 

[Tiggy253]

Welcome to BYC!

Sorry you both face this!

Looks pretty young, what is his age? What is his feed including treats and supplement?

Was he vaccinated against Marek's?

This is what Marek's *can* look like.. but there are many other things that can also present with similar symptoms.. New Castle's virus, nutrient deficiency, & more.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

Toes won't spread like normal standing when legs are bent. Though his toes DON'T look bent in the manner caused by *some* nutrient deficiencies. Also I expect electrolyte deficiency or imbalance would cause some lethargy or other symptoms.

Is he still eating and drinking? He must be since his poops are "normal".

Pretty boy! Hope you get answers and he recovers quickly!

What dewormer did you give him and how much.. was he lame before that or became that way after?

Thanks for such a quick response. He is 19 weeks old with no Mareks vaccination. He is eating and drinking still. His food is Purina start and grow medicated crumbles with the occasional treat of some meal worms. We gave him poultry dewormer which each capsule contains 6.7 mg of Fenbendazole. We gave him one pill and he was lame before it.