Eating but losing weight?

[The Happster]

Hi guys, I have a rooster here about 3 years old who has been slowly losing weight. I've been watching for the last couple of weeks to make sure he is definitely eating, but his crop never seems to fill up. He is typically on an average layer feed but I've been offering him raw egg, yoghurt & some grower feed the last few days to see if I can get some more weight on him. He's been deteriorating rapidly the last 48 hours and is now at the point where he is finding it harder to stand up and I don't really know what to do for him. Advice would be appreciated.

 

[SkyAJK]

Sorry, I just don't know. It might be something internal that cause him to lose weight, can you take him to the VET?
All I know is that if a chicken does not eat, then it is very sick as chicken hide its illness very well. All sort of things, like worms, lice and mites, ,,etc. Sorry that I can not be much help.

 

[The Happster]

Sorry, I just don't know. It might be something internal that cause him to lose weight, can you take him to the VET?
All I know is that if a chicken does not eat, then it is very sick as chicken hide its illness very well. All sort of things, like worms, lice and mites, ,,etc. Sorry that I can not be much help.

I appreciate the suggestions, thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Are there other roosters or hens who might be keeping him from food? Is he molting? I have seen roosters loose weight and become weak during their yearly molt. One even was dethroned and run off by the younger second in command rooster. Check his crop in early morning to make sure it is completely emptying overnight. Then offer some moistened chicken feed, plus a bit of scrambled egg, and alternate with a bit of rinsed canned tuna or ground meat. B complex vitamin tablets can be used 1/2 tablet daily crushed into his food to stimulate appetite and give him strength.

 

[The Happster]

Are there other roosters or hens who might be keeping him from food? Is he molting? I have seen roosters loose weight and become weak during their yearly molt. One even was dethroned and run off by the younger second in command rooster. Check his crop in early morning to make sure it is completely emptying overnight. Then offer some moistened chicken feed, plus a bit of scrambled egg, and alternate with a bit of rinsed canned tuna or ground meat. B complex vitamin tablets can be used 1/2 tablet daily crushed into his food to stimulate appetite and give him strength.

He unfortunately passed about 6 hours ago while I was at college. I would still like to try and find out what happened for future knowledge and a bit of closure.

He was very antisocial and aggressively possessive of food, so more likely to be the one keeping others from food.

He was moulting, which was actually why I originally did not do anything about it besides keeping an eye on him - I think I wanted to find out if it was just moulting taking a toll on him. Was going to come home and feed him B vitamins when I got home but he didn't last long enough. Should've tried this morning before I left. I did give him tuna and egg yesterday, but I think he was a little past it by then.

Thank you for the replies, much appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Most state vets could perform a necropsy to look for what killed him, if the body is kept cold, not frozen, and taken in to the lab. Here is a list of state vet labs to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[SkyAJK]

Sorry for your loss. Like Eggcessive recommended, have a necropsy to find out what exactly went down.