Cockerel can't walk. Please help!

[Collette Cullen]

Hi, just over a week ago my 1 year old wyandotte cockerel was starting to limp. He now for the past week hasnt been able to walk. Ive wormed with flubenvet. No joy. He's had antibiotics for a slight respiratory problem. He's also tested positive for coccidiosis. Started the treatment 4 days ago and put vitamins and antibiotics in his water and he still can't walk. He's been to the vets and they have no real answers apart from coccidiosis. Would this stop him walking for a week? He lives with a duck and the duck is fine. He lost colour in his rattles and comb bit it's slowly returning. Hes also light (only 2.3kg) but still eating and drinking.Can anyone please help?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Collette Cullen Welcome To BYC
Can you post some photos of your Rooster?
What have you been using to treat for Coccidiosis?
What type of antibiotic are you using?
What type of food/treats do you feed?

It's usually a good idea to give poultry vitamins after you finish treatment with a Coccidiostat like Corid (Amprolium), so eliminate those for the rest of your treatment period of the Coccidistat.

Having trouble walking can be a number of things - is he paralyzed or just weak? Do you know if he was vaccinated for Marek's?

Do the best you can to get to keep him hydrated and eating. He may benefit from extra protein like egg, tuna or meat. Once you finish with the Coccidiostat provide him with B Vitamins - you can either give poultry vitamins that contain B Vitamins or crush a human B-Complex vitamin and add it to his feed.

He may also like being upright if he is laying down all the time - you can place him in a sling for a few hours each day (monitored) if he is agreeable. Let us know how he is doing.

 

[andreanar]

Agree, you need to stop the vitamins while treating for cocci. Did you check feet for bumblefoot also?

 

[Collette Cullen]

Hi, his feet are ok. I given him vitamin b this morning. Ill stop the vitamins until after the coccidosis treatment. Cant remember the name of it? Hes had it for gour days already though.I can find out though. He can move his legs if i pick him up. He eats layers pellets, corn and mealworms

 

[Collette Cullen]

Is it normal for coccidiosis to do this to him for a week?

 

[andreanar]

Is it normal for coccidiosis to do this to him for a week?

First off, what are you using to treat the cocci? And what dosage are you giving? If you are using Corid powder, the correct dose is 1 1/2 tsp per gallon of water, making a new batch every day, making that the only water source available.
By giving the vitamins at the same time as cocci treatment, you may have nullified the cocci treatment. Cocci thrives on thiamine, which is also known as vitamin b1. Corid stops the cocci from replicating by not letting them have the thiamine. So, if you are giving the vitamin, you are essentially feeding the cocci and allowing it to replicate.

 

[Collette Cullen]

It's some clear liquid. I'll find out what it is. I'll definitely stop the vitamins. Can cocci cause these symptoms to last so long? I'm worried in case he has marecks? I don't know if he's been vsccinated. There's no other poultry nearby though

 

[andreanar]

Well depending on whether you are even using the correct medication for cocci, and the correct dose and as you've been giving vitamins....yes the cocci can last that long as you may not even been killing the cocci at all for the last week.
With Mareks, there is no medication, only supportive care until they either die or recover. Lets not even go there yet. Lets deal with the cocci, since he tested positive.
Get a photo of what you are using to treat, and tell me the dose you are using and we will go from there.

 

[Collette Cullen]

Thanks. I'll be home in an hour. Just picked and old vest up from my dad's to make him a sling. I do know it was from a proper poultry vet though. Thanks for your help

 

[rebrascora]

I'm afraid, the symptoms and illnesses he is experiencing can all be linked to Marek's..... leg weakness and weight loss.... but also coccidiosis and respiratory illness as the virus compromises the immune system and leaves infected birds vulnerable to things that their immune system should have resistance to.
How long have you had him? It can lie dormant for months or even a year and outbreaks are often triggered by stress.
I'm going to guess that you are in the UK since you mention Flubenvet, so the coccidiosis product you have is probably Harker's Coxoid. The one I have is a 3.84% w/v amprolium solution marketed for pigeons.