Cockerel with potential infection

[Kiki]

Sorry Conan.
Did you happen to investigate him any?
His swollen part.

 

[BantyChooks]

Sorry Conan.
Did you happen to investigate him any?
His swollen part.

x2

 

[Conan]

Sorry Conan.
Did you happen to investigate him any?
His swollen part.

x2

You know, I thought about it, and I almost kept his head to do just that... then I realized that I had a ton of people over for Thanksgiving, and figured that I should just let it go. I did check his the ear canals after death. They were clean, clear with no debris.
I believe his head is still out there. Perhaps I should go give it a look-see.

 

[casportpony]

Do you think the swelling could have been a tumor?

 

[Conan]

Ok. So I cut the lump on top open. Very small chunk of yellow/white pus but mainly just swollen tissue. There was a tiny bit of pus behind the scab above the ear, but other than that, also just swollen pink tissue.
No evidence of tumors.

 

[Waves]

Thanks, all! Here is Salty, in happier times, which is how I will remember him. View attachment 1970253

He was simply beautiful.
Sorry for your loss, really, i understand very much you. i lost two chickens a week ago

 

[Conan]

Do you think the swelling could have been a tumor?

Another thought occurs. We've had a goshawk issue this fall. It's very possible that the wing injury could have been a miss for the hawk. I did lose his sibling the same day I brought him inside after noticing the swelling on his face. The gos has only been successful with the bantams. The others are either too large, or too scrappy.

 

[Shadrach]

Another thought occurs. We've had a goshawk issue this fall. It's very possible that the wing injury could have been a miss for the hawk. I did lose his sibling the same day I brought him inside after noticing the swelling on his face. The gos has only been successful with the bantams. The others are either too large, or too scrappy.

Sorry to read Salty didn't make it.
The above makes much more sense. Those injuries imo could really only come from another bird and not an accident. It's why I asked about a senior rooster.

 

[BarredRockMom]

If you saw only a bit of pus, I am doubly inclined to think that there was some kind of infection raging thru his little system. Having given an antibiotic and seen no appreciable improvement makes me suspect some kind of bacterial infection.

I'm not certainly NOT an expert and realize that it's all speculation at this point. I know that you did everything humanly possible to help him...and he surely knew it too.

When a previous poster asked about another roo, I was curious to hear the answer. When you said no, I was stumped too. Hard to know for sure but I agree that the goshawk theory seems possible.

If it suspects an easy meal, it will be back. I am assuming that the attacks have occurred outside of their secure enclosure, so there's no need to say anything about fortifying their space(s).

 

[Shadrach]

If you saw only a bit of pus, I am doubly inclined to think that there was some kind of infection raging thru his little system. Having given an antibiotic and seen no appreciable improvement makes me suspect some kind of bacterial infection.

I'm not certainly NOT an expert and realize that it's all speculation at this point. I know that you did everything humanly possible to help him...and he surely knew it too.

When a previous poster asked about another roo, I was curious to hear the answer. When you said no, I was stumped too. Hard to know for sure but I agree that the goshawk theory seems possible.

If it suspects an easy meal, it will be back. I am assuming that the attacks have occurred outside of their secure enclosure, so there's no need to say anything about fortifying their space(s).

Here they don't give a bird with possible internal injuries from a hawk strike antibiotics orally. The wounds get cleaned and disinfected and an anti bacterial ointment is applied.
If an antibiotic is needed it's injected.