Gurgly Rooster

[rascal66]

I noticed my Rhode Island Red Roo sounds gurgly. He tried to crow and.. Well he couldn't fully. He sounds almost congested.. He is the only one in the flock I've noticed this from. He eats drinks and acts normally. I haven't seen any watery nose or eyes...

What could be wrong? Anything I can give him to help it go away? Will it go away on its own?

 

[nchls school]

Sounds like a possible respiratory problem/infection. I'd wait a day or so to see if it improves without intervention. Then use antibiotics for respiratory infections. Consider separating the rooster from the flock in case it is something that could spread to the rest of the chickens.

 

[Eggcessive]

Check his crop first thing in the morning to see if is empty and flat or full, hard, puffy, or doughy. Gurgly sounds may be present with a respiratory infection, but sometimes if the crop is not emptying normally, they might have some crop contents coming up into the throat. Continue to look him over for any nasal drainage, bubbles in an eye or watery drainage, facial or eyelid swelling, wheezes and crackles with breathing. Does he seem to be gasping or breathing hard?

 

[rascal66]

Check his crop first thing in the morning to see if is empty and flat or full, hard, puffy, or doughy. Gurgly sounds may be present with a respiratory infection, but sometimes if the crop is not emptying normally, they might have some crop contents coming up into the throat. Continue to look him over for any nasal drainage, bubbles in an eye or watery drainage, facial or eyelid swelling, wheezes and crackles with breathing. Does he seem to be gasping or breathing hard?

Oh darn, I already fed them for the morning, so I may just have to check his crop tomorrow?
I'll come back with an update on his physical appearance, as far as the drainage and swelling.
He doesn't seem to be wheezing or gasping. Just sounds like when he tries to make a sound, or every other heavier breath he sounds gurgly and congested.. Hes been like this for at least a week now. I wasn't so sure at what the sound was at first but I found out it was him all along.. I'll also need to double check his droppings. He is the only one I've noticed this from. I really hope its not contagious! I can separate him if needed.

 

[Eggcessive]

If he hasn’t eaten much you may still be able to feel his crop. If it feels full and puffy or boggy, then that can be a sign of sour crop. Smell his beak as well for any sour odor.

 

[rascal66]

Hello! Sorry for such a late update. Rooster is still active and acting pretty normal, however still has the gurgle. I felt his crop and it feels doughy. I think I can also feel grass content in there, so now I'm leaning on the idea that he has a minor impacted crop maybe? I tried to smell his mouth and it doesn't smell sour or anything. (I've dealt with sour crop before, am.somewhat familiar with the smell and water baggey crop.. Rooster seems better than that.). So.. Not too sure. If it was a respiratory issue, wouldn't it have gotten worse by now?

 

[Eggcessive]

If his crop is doughy, I would make sure that he is drinking well, and do not give him whole grains, just his usual chicken feed. Massage his crop downward several times a day to try and break up the blockage to move it onward. Take a teaspoonful of coconut oil and refrigerate it for a bit so that you can chop it into small slivers, and feed that to him. Do that daily until the doughy crop softens. Here are some good threads to read about crop problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/