droopy rooster - please help

[katinatrm]

I have a rooster who I just noticed today is not walking around much. When he stands he does not hold his head up like the other one - its kinda sucked into his body. His tail doesn't stand up and his wings droop down to the ground. He will still come when he's called but probably out of some sense of obligation
This rooster is different from the other rooster or chickens. When we incubated his batch of eggs I think the incubater was bumped and the temperature was up too high. 14 eggs didn't hatch, he was the only one. We kept him company as he grew and gave him toys for socialization, when there are the only one boy do they scream
Now he thinks he is people. He comes when he's called, he comes in and out of the house whenever he feels like it and has a friendly rivalry with the dog.
I really don't want to loose him - but I don't know what's wrong....please help!!

 

[klmclain1]

Have you checked him over thoroughly for lice or mites? When was the last time you wormed him and with what? Just some things to start with.

 

[katinatrm]

I guess I didn't realize they were supposed to be wormed? I checked him over earlier but I was looking more for a bite cause I had a strange dog in my yard this morning. Although he never came out of the coop so I didn't think I would find anything like that. Do I have to be able to check under his feathers? I've brought him in the house with us and he is just laying down now - I'm sad....I'm afraid he will die. A vet is out of the question cause we can't even afford our bills right now

 

[dawg53]

I agree with Klmclain1. Pick him up and visually inspect him for external parasites. Worms are a possibility as well. How old is he and what does his poop look like? Any other abnormalities; sneezing, snotty nostrils, bubbles in eyes etc..?

 

[klmclain1]

Any of the things we've (dawg53 and I) mentioned can be treated at home - in many cases at a very low cost. Please look at all the things mentioned and give us as much info as you can!

 

[katinatrm]

He's about a year old - I did run out and got him some dewormer and packets they suggested - sav a chick and probiotic. He tries to eat but doesn't get much. I gave him some of the water in a dropper. He's got a fever, his head, feet and under wings is hot. I don't see any signs of external pests. We did notice a couple weeks ago that he's got a broken toe but he wasn't limping like it was bothering him. There wasn't any open areas that I thought might get infected. Thank you so much for all your tips - anything else you can think of would be much appreciated

 

[klmclain1]

Does he have any swollen places on his feet either on top, between the toes or on the bottom? How are you determining he has a fever??

 

[katinatrm]

the only thing that is a little swollen is that broken toe but I assume it's because that's the way it healed. I say he has a fever because his head, legs, feet and under his wings feel hot. He is treated like a pet and does allow us to pick him up, even when he is not sick, so I know that he is not usually that hot.
Also I have now determined that there are some sort of bugs on him, only because after spending too much time with him cause I feel bad for him I could feel something crawling in my hair (ewww). I've tried to find pictures of known parasites on chickens and cannot find a picture of it. It was trasparent, very tiny, hard to see but had a very tiny dark spot in the middle of it. makes me itchy just thinking about it. I try not to handle him much since i've showered but I do have to encourage him to drink as he is not doing it on his own. When he does drink it seems like he is having a hard time getting it down. He is currenly standing better than he was - but I'm still watching him like a hawk. Thank you everyone for your help. Still taking any suggestions. I've had chickens for about 3 years now but have not actually tried so hard to save one.

 

[klmclain1]

Not sure about the feveror the toe, but you need to go ahead and treat him ASAP for external parasites - they'll suck his blood and it will kill him. Sevin dust seems to work the best and quickest and will work for both lice and mites. You'll want to dust both (all) your birds thoroughly being sure to get under the wings, around the vent as well. You'll want to completely clean out their living quarters, and spray it down with a 10% bleach solution or you can use the sevin liquid diluted per instructions. Then sprinkle sevin dust all over (lightly) and put in new bedding. This will all have to be repeated in 7 days. If they have a favorite dust bath or two, you should sprinkle in some Sevin dust there too. Just be sure to not get it in their eyes, nose or beak.

 

[katinatrm]

they haven't yet been in their dusting spots - it's all still thawing do they have to stay out for a certain length of time after cleaning out their coop and putting the stuff down? Thank you so much for all your help