Frankie is an 8 yr old large Blue Wheaten Ameraucana
About a month ago I noticed he had really soft stool. Like chicken poop color but cow pie consistency. I have treated for external parasites (Elector PSP a couple months ago) and internal parasites (Valbazen 2weeks ago) recently, his crop is overly full and hard. He keeps making that crop readjusting movement with his neck. I do not notice any foul smell. He is loosing weight.
He has been very healthy his whole life up until this summer when he had fly strike near his vent. This was caught very early and he recovered quickly.
All the other birds seem to be fine and have great poops. (As seen on the poop board during daily clean up) grit is always available as well as free range time daily. He goes out with all the girl but I notice him roosting and napping more. He is also not grooming himself as he normally does and his new feather still have their casing on. He is just finishing up his molt.
Any idea what I could be dealing with?
I know he is old. Any number of things could take him out. If it’s just his time then I’m at peace with that. He has lived a good little chicken life and I’ve been able to hatch chicks from him so he will live on in his progeny.
I had a crop issue earlier this year with another cock and did all the things to try and save him but when I did a necropsy he had intestinal cancer that blocked things from moving through his intestines. Hopefully this isn’t something similar.
About a month ago I noticed he had really soft stool. Like chicken poop color but cow pie consistency. I have treated for external parasites (Elector PSP a couple months ago) and internal parasites (Valbazen 2weeks ago) recently, his crop is overly full and hard. He keeps making that crop readjusting movement with his neck. I do not notice any foul smell. He is loosing weight.
He has been very healthy his whole life up until this summer when he had fly strike near his vent. This was caught very early and he recovered quickly.
All the other birds seem to be fine and have great poops. (As seen on the poop board during daily clean up) grit is always available as well as free range time daily. He goes out with all the girl but I notice him roosting and napping more. He is also not grooming himself as he normally does and his new feather still have their casing on. He is just finishing up his molt.
Any idea what I could be dealing with?
I know he is old. Any number of things could take him out. If it’s just his time then I’m at peace with that. He has lived a good little chicken life and I’ve been able to hatch chicks from him so he will live on in his progeny.
I had a crop issue earlier this year with another cock and did all the things to try and save him but when I did a necropsy he had intestinal cancer that blocked things from moving through his intestines. Hopefully this isn’t something similar.