Dying rooster - How to care for him in his last moments...?

[Papaye]

Hi!

Exercising (struggling in his bond) and NOT sitting on his legs for a few hours yesterday has clearly helped Apache : he is doing really good today, and is not even in pain, and tried to stand first thing when I got him out of his coop!!

And : HE IS DRINKING!!

First thing I did give to eat in the morning was 5 yolks from eggs cooked in the morning, crushed and mixed with Multivitamins Juice, Olive Oil, and water...

Apache love it so much he already ate almost all of the mix!!

Since there was some left, I filled the little bowl with water, and stirred - so the water was mixed with what was left of the yolks...

I then cleaned Apache beak's, put some wheat and duck/goose pellets in the other bowl (I'm using a double cat bowl here!), and gave him this double bowl to him...
He have to love the yellow colour of the water, since he is drinking really well...!

irst, instead of showering Apache, could you sit him in a deep bowl so you only bathe his bottom where he is dirty and not get him wet all over? That might be easier for him - and for you!

No, that's actually easier for me - and probably for him -, since I soap and rince him several times when I shower him.

Second, I would really think he should be eating food formulated for chickens, not for cats or dogs since their nutritional needs are so different. But I understand he eats what he LIKES. So maybe try this. Get his chicken food very wet and let it sit until it is the same consistency as the cat food. Then mix in a LITTLE cat food in it so it has the taste and smell that he likes. I really think he would heal and get stronger much faster if you did this. What do you think?

I think you are right, and I will try that today or tomorrow!

Thank you very much!!!

 

[Papaye]

...Apache still does not walk with the wheelchair : I hung him on it during 2-3 hours in the afternoon, but he just struggled again in his binds, and did not try to walk in, and so with it.

I don't know if I have to worry, since it is only the second day with the wheelchair...
But I can't help to wonder if putting him in the wheelchair now is not just... too late?
I really hope it is NOT...

For now, I can at least hang Apache to the wheelchair for three things :
1 - to make him stronger by letting him struggle in his binds;
2 - to help him learn how to walk again by personally helping him move his legs (in the wheelchair) like if he was walking;
3 - to prevent him from sitting on his legs, and so, from being in pain (heels/ankles/"knees" keep hurting, after all)...

I really don't know what I could do better...

For now, he is sleeping in his coop; and not long before I put him to sleep, he was hurting again...
I have not even given a painkiller to him, since it is his heels/ankles that causes him pain, and I thought once on the thick layer of straw I put in his coop, he would not be in pain anymore...

...Also, I have to precise : Apache did NOT eat any wet pet food today!!
Indeed, he only ate (cooked) yolks crushed and mixed with water, and Olive Oil, and Multivitamins Juice... AND (he also ate) wheat, duck/goose pellets, and Premium Mix for Poultry!

That's great, and a new victory...!!

Nevertheless, I'm worried by the fact Apache's droppings are still green...
I know for a fact it can not possibly be caused by him eating grass : after all, boy has not eaten any grass for two days at least!
(...I can only hope changing his diet from now on will show results, and correct his droppings' colours - yes...?)

 

[Papaye]

Hi!

Apache... could walk on his FEET today - NOT on his heels/ankles!

Nevertheless, in fact of this wonderful progress : he still can not stand high on his legs, and has much difficulties to move like he wants to.
Indeed, when he tries to move forward, poor boy keeps falling backward... pulled back by his weight...

He needs to keep strenghtening his muscles, and I'm helping him to do so of course...

...Today, I have kept Apache hanging in the wheelchair for only one hour in the afternoon, since he was so clearly bothered I was eventually bothered to keep him in there...

So, instead of letting him struggle alone in the wheelchair, I let him go, kept making him wear the cat harness and the belts... and I then walked him - like if he was a dog - by using the belts as a leash.
...I, of course, kept the belts pulled up, so Apache could stand high on his feet without any effort on his parts!!
And that... was a really good idea, given that Apache could then walk splendidly... (Not perfectly, ok... but he walked, and even if it is thanks to my help, I'm glad he is also doing his best!)

I am thankful for the current wheather : warm temperatures are a great help for Apache's recovery...!
But cold and rain and wind are predicted to return not tomorrow, but the next days... and I'm afraid what it could mean for Apache, since he is so dependent of the wheather to heal and strenghten himself...

 

[RockyMtnMama]

Hello.

One of my Brahma rooster - my favorite, named Apache le Colosse - is dying.
(He is only around one-year-old.)

For some weeks now, he has been getting more and more paralyzed...

By elimination, and after all the care he had, there are only 3 causes possible :
1 - an injury in his back,
2 - an injury in his head,
3 - (the aftermath) of a stroke.

I was previously persuaded it was certainly an injury in his back for two reasons : not only did he NOT fight with Rocky, my other rooster - so no risk to be injured in his head -; but he also had been getting better for the last days...
So, an injury in his back was logical to me...

Nevertheless, I understand now he was not actually healing these last days : indeed, it was actually, clearly, only the famous "energy boost" before death.

Since, this morning, Apache was finally in his worst condition ever!
Poor boy is clearly dying, since he has even been emptying his bowels...
(And I know this smell : it is Death.)

(So, Apache is very probably suffering from the aftermath of a stroke...)

...What do I know now?
He can't move anymore...

Here is how he is for now :

View attachment 3724254

And :

View attachment 3724255

He actually looks BETTER than ever if we only look at his face, since he is redder - normalish red - than these last weeks.
Indeed : yesterday, his comb was purple - what I now know being from frostbite -; today, his comb is a healthy red...
(...Why is Apache's purple-frobisted comb be so red now, just before his death?!)
Given he can not move anymore, he can obviously not eat or drink anymore... He actually do not want to eat OR drink...

...What can I do for him...?

I really can NOT put him down : not only have I a terrible phobia of corpses, but even if it was not a problem for me... I NEVER put down an animal. I don't know HOW to do that, so I'm too much afraid I would miss and, ultimately, cause severe pain to Apache...

...I am not hand-feeding him for now, because he could be suffering... and I feel prolonging the inevitable, if it IS possible, would be cruel if he really is in pain - especially since it's winter, and the cold would then aggravate his pain...

But what do YOU think I should do?
What would YOU do...?

He is dying.
He can't be saved anymore...

How to care for him in his last momemts, so he could at least die as comfortably as possible?
Do I put him in his coop, so he can stay warm...?
Do I let him outside, so he can see his friends...?
Do I force him to drink water at least...?
...?

No expert here for sure, but if it were me, I’d wrap him snuggly in a towel and just sit in a quiet place and hold him. . So sorry. It sucks.

 

[The Welch Chickens]

No expert here for sure, but if it were me, I’d wrap him snuggly in a towel and just sit in a quiet place and hold him. . So sorry. It sucks.

Sorry if you already saw, but Apache has improved and is now on his way to recovery, and @Papaye is now giving daily updates on his condition

 

[RockyMtnMama]

Sorry if you already saw, but Apache has improved and is now on his way to recovery, and @Papaye is now giving daily updates on his condition

Oh mercy. No idea why why that didn’t show first . In any case I’m very glad he’s better !. And thank you!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

am thankful for the current wheather : warm temperatures are a great help for Apache's recovery...!
But cold and rain and wind are predicted to return not tomorrow, but the next days... and I'm afraid what it could mean for Apache, since he is so dependent of the wheather to heal and strenghten himself...

When the weather is bad, is there a place you can walk him indoors? In a garage, a barn, or a basement, perhaps?

 

[Oob Child]

I'm so happy he is doing better
I hope he continues to recover, I've been following silently for a while now.
Good luck to you and Apache!

 

[Papaye]

Hello, hello, hello!!!

Oh my God... you won't believe that! I don't believe that...!!

Apache was just standing on his FEET (NOT ON HIS HEELS/ANKLES), alone and with no help... and staying like that for a looooong time : 15 minutes...!! At least!!
(I actually don't know how long he was standing, because I could not go outside earlier : there were winds much too strong for me to be brave enough to get out of my house...)

...VIC.TO.RY!!

Apache may have decided to stand and walk (a bit) forward in order to avoid the rain...

Indeed, even though he is (supposed to be) protected from rain inside of his run, thanks to the covers (and I even thought to add one in the morning, in anticipation of bad wheather)... he actually got wet : the wind was much too strong and swirling, and rain eventually did get inside... and so, on our poor Apache!

...So... Apache is wet.
Not so much I had to dry him up before putting him to sleep, thanksfully...
(I will dry him up tomorrow if needed! For the time being, he is warm in his coop - with a lot of straw and a blanket to protect the coop.)

(Boy looks ugly here...
My fault, because I could not take better pictures... He actually is still beautiful (of course)!)

For now, what is important is the fact Apache is trying his best, and regaining his strenght - and really fast at that...!

That's amazing how much he has been improving...

Hanging him in the wheelchair forces him to work his muscles, because even though he still does not walk with this toy, he is so bothered by his binds when he is in the wheelchair he then finds the strengh to struggle so much he ends up actually exercising...

And it is noticeable, because he is stronger each day.

The fact he was able to stand by himself today, on his feet, for several minutes is even actually shocking, because... let's not forget he is very light for a Brahma rooster, and has not so much strong muscles (for the time being) he feels like he could do all of what he does everyday...!

...I'm so happy to have made this wheelchair, and to have insisted to keep Apache hung in there (just) a few hours per (not raining) day even though he does not use it to walk...
The thing helps him... and that's so amazing to see him getting better and to know that...

The next day will be difficult... or not : I kept Apache confined in his run today, and for once, it did not look like he was so bothered by that...
Maybe because he can move better now...?

If he is getting more wet, I at least will get him inside of my house to dry him up, and warm him.
(I will also get him inside if ever it is too cold outside, just so the cold does not prevents him to recover faster.)
And maybe help him exercise - just in front of my wood stove so he is comfortable -, with the help of the cat harness and the belts...?

No idea why why that didn’t show first .

Sorry!!
I actually know adding an update on the first post is a thing... (?) but I just did not think to put one myself.
My bad...

But I will add an update on my first post, so there will be no more confusion!

In any case I’m very glad he’s better !.

Thank you.

Boy is strong, and wants to live, and really tries his best to recover...!!

When the weather is bad, is there a place you can walk him indoors? In a garage, a barn, or a basement, perhaps?

I can get Apache inside of my house, but he really does not like that : floor is much to smooth to his liking... and in his current condition, he would not be able to walk on it. At least by himself!

But I have thought about that yesterday and today, and I eventually decided I will get him inside if it is too cold outside - at least to keep him warm in front of the wood stove.

Today, the weather has not affected Apache in any way... but nothing tell me it will be the same tomorrow. And if ever I feel Apache's recovery is at risk to be slowned down by the cold, I will just get him inside and manage something...
(I think I could make him walk on my so smooth floor with the cat harness and the belts, so I would try my best to make him work his muscles, but without bothering him too much...)

I'm so happy he is doing better
I hope he continues to recover, I've been following silently for a while now.
Good luck to you and Apache!

Thank you very much!

Progress are fast, and more so today...
I was so surprised to see Apache standing on his feet, in the evening, and staying in this position...!!

 

[Papaye]

No idea why why that didn’t show first .

Sorry!!
I actually know adding an update on the first post is a thing... (?) but I just did not think to put one myself.
My bad...

But I will add an update on my first post, so there will be no more confusion!

...Hmm...
I wrote too fast, sorry : indeed, I actually can not edit my first post... I don't know why.
So, I can NOT notice people Apache is recovering - at least on the first page.
Sorry for that...