Chicken panting? What's wrong?

[yeeen]

My rooster has been with me for 8 yrs. Very lively and healthy all the while. Though I may be sometimes a bit rough with him, I care about him quite alot. He is quite clever also, as in when me or my family members return home, he will crow. When I call his name, he seems to know and will look at me. When his cage is open, he will even come to me when I called him. In the past I have another hen which grew up with him, but she only survived 7 yrs, and died because of diarrhea.

Last night, I don't what what happened, he suddenly panted. He looks weak until now and don't seem interested to eat. He also panted this early morning. However, he still can crow and quite loudly unlike last night's (he crows at night sometimes). So I searched google and found this forum, hoping to get some answers. I still want him to be with me for a few more yrs...

1) What are the possible causes that he panted?

2) What can I do to make him feel better?

3) In addition, how long does a chicken usually live if it is well taken care of?

Thanks in advance...

 

[seminolewind]

I would like to know too.

 

[ivan3]

Welcome, yeeen! Sorry to hear your guy is suffering (you must not be treating him too rough, 8yrs.! Hope our guy can do so well).

Is he eating or drinking at all?
Is the panting intermittent or continuous?
Is his comb/wattles discolored (dusky to purple)? (lack of oxygen)
When he's panting is he pointing his beak toward the sky? (sometimes will do this if they have something in airway or neck injury)
Did you observe panting after he went to roost?
Has the weather at your location warmed up rapidly? (winter temps to overly warm days in spring can stress `em)
Any changes with diet/exposure to other birds/etc.? (just any differences you can think of that might help).

I'm sure the experts will be along shortly,

Again, welcome, lots of roo fanatics here!

Good luck!

(someone had at least a 15 yr. old hen - don't know if roos keep crowing that long)

 

[yeeen]

Thanks Ivan3...

Is he eating or drinking at all? A little, he ate some tomato seeds just now, but I didn't see/hear him pecking his oak flakes or rice.
Is the panting intermittent or continuous? Intermittent.
Is his comb/wattles discolored (dusky to purple)? (lack of oxygen) It looks dark red, seems the same as usual.
When he's panting is he pointing his beak toward the sky? (sometimes will do this if they have something in airway or neck injury) Not towards ths sky, but straight.
Did you observe panting after he went to roost? Yes, just now
Has the weather at your location warmed up rapidly? (winter temps to overly warm days in spring can stress `em) I am living in a tropical climate, so no 4 seasons. Maybe a little wamed up, but not rapidly. I don't think it's due to the weather.
Any changes with diet/exposure to other birds/etc.?(just any differences you can think of that might help). No.


In addition, he keeps sitting down/standing there at the same spot, not willing to move much. Unlike his lively character. His faeces is somehow watery, white & green patches. Hope all these help in finding the answers to my doubts.

 

[SpottedCrow]

When my Hen Slifer's arthritis acted up, she'd pant and lay in one spot.

 

[sammi]

has he been drinking more water then usual?( since you said the weather had warmed up.)

the watery white could be from the warm weather.
the green from lack of eating and causing undiluted bile to pass thru.
but these color droppings could indicate a serious illness..such as Lymphoid Leukosis..
but there are several other things that could be causing these symptoms.

does he stay in a coop?
has the coop been cleaned recently?
what do you use for bedding?
could the bedding have gotten wet, or damp, and gone moldy or musty?

do his eyes appear wet, or swollen?
does he have any breath sounds, such as wheezing, or rattling?
is he shaking his head?
does he have any mucus?

has he been wormed?
if so, when? and what was used?

please check his mouth and throat for any whitish or yellowish plaque or sores, or sour odor..anything red in the throat, or look for any obstruction.

see if he will eat some cooked egg mixed in with his feed. you might try and get some game bird feed, or offer him some canned cat food..beef or liver.

will wait for your reply to questions.

 

[yeeen]

thanks sammi

has he been drinking more water then usual?( since you said the weather had warmed up.)He don't drink much water as usual. Warmed up as in not so cold at night, but not very warm. It is even raining now...

the watery white could be from the warm weather.
the green from lack of eating and causing undiluted bile to pass thru.sounds reasonable
It is white patch (with a bit of green patch) and surrounding it is all water...
but these color droppings could indicate a serious illness..such as Lymphoid Leukosis..
but there are several other things that could be causing these symptoms.

does he stay in a coop?yup
has the coop been cleaned recently?yes
what do you use for bedding?newspaper all the while. When it's bedtime, will cover newspaper over the coop so it looks conducive for sleeping.
could the bedding have gotten wet, or damp, and gone moldy or musty?My father and I change the bedding frequently. 1 day change about 3 times. We do take care of his hygience.

do his eyes appear wet, or swollen?no
does he have any breath sounds, such as wheezing, or rattling?no
is he shaking his head?no
does he have any mucus?no

has he been wormed?no. he don't eat worms.
if so, when? and what was used?

please check his mouth and throat for any whitish or yellowish plaque or sores, or sour odor..anything red in the throat, or look for any obstruction.i don't think i can see anything strange in his mouth.

see if he will eat some cooked egg mixed in with his feed. you might try and get some game bird feed, or offer him some canned cat food..beef or liver.I don't think he wants to eat anything now. Don't hv bird feed or cat food or beef or liver w me. Anyway those stuff r not his usual diet. He usually eats oak flakes, rice(cooked or uncooked), veg(cooked or uncooked), noodles(cooked or uncooked), biscuits... Sometimes will feed him with cooked rice or noodles with soup or gravy on it. He usually eats quite healthy stuff.

 

[yeeen]

Quote:
What is arthritis like for chicken? Did she pant too?

 

[rufus]

My money is on gape worm. Does he eat earthworms or cockroaches? Are you by any chance in the Phillipines?

Worm him and give him sunflower seeds. When you worm chickens, you want to avoid eating the eggs, but since he is a rooster that is not a problem.

Good luck with him.

Rufus

 

[yeeen]

My money is on gape worm. Does he eat earthworms or cockroaches? He eats stuff that are usually eaten by humans. See above post fr me.Are you by any chance in the Phillipines?I am fr S'pore.

Worm him and give him sunflower seeds. When you worm chickens, you want to avoid eating the eggs, but since he is a rooster that is not a problem.I don't know where to get worms. Anyway worms r not his usually diet. I don't think feeding worms will make him better. There must be sth else tt caused his problem, and I should aim to find the root of the problem n its solution.

Good luck with him.Thanks.

Worrying...