Happy Rambunctious Rooster Now Lethargic.

[DuckDuckPromise]

Hey everyone. We have a rooster who is typically our most active, playful, hilarious boy, that just turned very lethargic. I seen him laying very still during the day 2 or 3 days ago, and while I thought it was abnormal for him, it was a rather toasty day and I thought he might just be trying to cool off. Fast forward and he is still acting VERY off. He is standing in place, closing his eyes most of the time, and only opening them every now and then. When you approach him, he just takes a few steps away. I’m thankful that he can walk, it’s just not his normal. (I said friendly chicken, not lap chicken, he has proven VERY fast when trying to approach him.)
My sister suggested some ACV in his water, and I just offered him that, and put some mealworms floating on top to see if that would encourage him to dip his beak in. PRAISE THE LORD, he did drink the water! But the strange part, he avoided the mealworms. Almost like it’s hard for him to eat? I don’t know, and I’m curious if anyone has any ideas on what would cause this behavior. He has stayed in the same place pretty much the whole time I’ve fed the rest of the flock. He has also started sleeping somewhere different. I’m not sure if that is related or not, just trying to piece together anything new. He doesn’t appear to have any wounds, and his legs/feet seem to be fine (not broken.)
If anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it! And please pray for our sweet boy!!!

 

[DuckDuckPromise]

I just came across some of his feathers about 5-7, and they appear to be tail feathers. But still see no sign of wound/injury.

 

[DuckDuckPromise]

Update: I waited until tonight when he was good a docile, and went to check for wounds, but instead found under him bright green poop, SWARMED with ants. None of the other poo is swarmed with ants.. this would also add to my theory of something wrong with his stomach causing him not to eat. Thoughts please? Keep praying for Lazarus!

 

[charlie1051]

Hi, I just read your posts, I have a rooster that is acting just like yours was. Can I ask how things turned out for your Lazarus?

 

[DuckDuckPromise]

Hi, I just read your posts, I have a rooster that is acting just like yours was. Can I ask how things turned out for your Lazarus?

Hi Charlie! I am thrilled to Praise God for the healing (again) of Lazarus!!! I still have NO clue what was bothering him, and a few days after my last post, he started roosting somewhere new again, this time in front of the house, away from the chicken coop. So, my Mom suggested some green peas… I gave that baby a can of green peas, water and all, and mixed in some apple cider vinegar. That sweet rooster ate THE WHOLE CAN!!! I watched it, because I would have assumed he just knocked it over, but nope! Praise The Lord, he ate all of them! We did this for a few days, and he just got to acting better and better!! He changed roosting places again, he came closer to the door, on the ramp up to the porch this time… almost like he was trying to be close to us! I know that sounds crazy, I’m just trying to give all of the details! He finally got to acting COMPLETELY normal, and started roosting around back in his original roosting spot!! I wish I could tell you what was going on with him, but like I said, I don’t know!! It was ALL God!!! If you haven’t read Lazarus’ story on here before, the short version is, a few years ago, he was attacked by a dog, lifeless, laying on his back with his feet in the air surrounded by blood. We moved him to the shade thinking he was gone, and a few hours later HE WALKED TO THE BACK YARD TO GREET ME!!! Hence the name “Lazarus!!!”
So God has truly been with us and this chicken!!! And this time is no different!

We will be praying for your rooster!!!
If there is anything I can try to assist with, I’ll share any limited knowledge I may have!!! But we are absolutely praying for your boy!

 

[charlie1051]

Wow, that is AWESOME!!!

Hi Charlie! I am thrilled to Praise God for the healing (again) of Lazarus!!! I still have NO clue what was bothering him, and a few days after my last post, he started roosting somewhere new again, this time in front of the house, away from the chicken coop. So, my Mom suggested some green peas… I gave that baby a can of green peas, water and all, and mixed in some apple cider vinegar. That sweet rooster ate THE WHOLE CAN!!! I watched it, because I would have assumed he just knocked it over, but nope! Praise The Lord, he ate all of them! We did this for a few days, and he just got to acting better and better!! He changed roosting places again, he came closer to the door, on the ramp up to the porch this time… almost like he was trying to be close to us! I know that sounds crazy, I’m just trying to give all of the details! He finally got to acting COMPLETELY normal, and started roosting around back in his original roosting spot!! I wish I could tell you what was going on with him, but like I said, I don’t know!! It was ALL God!!! If you haven’t read Lazarus’ story on here before, the short version is, a few years ago, he was attacked by a dog, lifeless, laying on his back with his feet in the air surrounded by blood. We moved him to the shade thinking he was gone, and a few hours later HE WALKED TO THE BACK YARD TO GREET ME!!! Hence the name “Lazarus!!!”
So God has truly been with us and this chicken!!! And this time is no different!

We will be praying for your rooster!!!
If there is anything I can try to assist with, I’ll share any limited knowledge I may have!!! But we are absolutely praying for your boy!

Hi DuckDuck, Wow, that's awesome! I thought with the name of Lazarus that you were either fond of that name or you were refereeing to Jesus' friend that he raised from the dead. So you have a true Lazarus....that is amazing that he got up and walked away from a dog attack. What kind of rooster is he, is he a mix? I need to get me one of those

It's good to know about the peas and water. Who woulda thought? Good thing your mom did! I splurge a can of corn every now and then when we have a bunch and I think my wife won't notice

I wanted to thank you for praying for my rooster-and I mean that, that is so kind....cause I was looking for some crazy disease but what I really needed to do was just slow down (I don't see too good nowadays) and check him out better. And I really think your prayer helped me do that...so I gave him a good lookover with a flashlight this time and found he had a major lice infestation. I was real upset I didn't see it before but thankful I finally saw it. So I treated the old boy with enough Diatomaceous earth (had to spell check that one) that I'm still getting it out of my hair and clothes..and it worked cause he's back to crowing again and has some pep in his step!

His name is Big Boy-he's huge and he's real nice. Thanks Duck Duck

 

[DuckDuckPromise]

Wow, that is AWESOME!!!

Hi DuckDuck, Wow, that's awesome! I thought with the name of Lazarus that you were either fond of that name or you were refereeing to Jesus' friend that he raised from the dead. So you have a true Lazarus....that is amazing that he got up and walked away from a dog attack. What kind of rooster is he, is he a mix? I need to get me one of those

It's good to know about the peas and water. Who woulda thought? Good thing your mom did! I splurge a can of corn every now and then when we have a bunch and I think my wife won't notice

I wanted to thank you for praying for my rooster-and I mean that, that is so kind....cause I was looking for some crazy disease but what I really needed to do was just slow down (I don't see too good nowadays) and check him out better. And I really think your prayer helped me do that...so I gave him a good lookover with a flashlight this time and found he had a major lice infestation. I was real upset I didn't see it before but thankful I finally saw it. So I treated the old boy with enough Diatomaceous earth (had to spell check that one) that I'm still getting it out of my hair and clothes..and it worked cause he's back to crowing again and has some pep in his step!

His name is Big Boy-he's huge and he's real nice. Thanks Duck Duck

YAY!!! I’m so happy that Big Boy is doing better!!! Praise the Lord!!! And thank you for your response, I have been looked over for my “lengthy” writing before, and it is so nice to have someone write me back with just as much to read! It makes my heart happy! I love hearing these stories, and good luck getting the diatomaceous earth out of… everywhere!
That is crazy that it was a lice infestation! It makes me wonder if that was what Lazarus had? I didn’t see anything crawling on him, even in his fluffy feathers, but I certainly could have overlooked it! Is it hard to see the lice?

Lazarus is a barnyard mix, and very big like your Big Boy! He is the most mild mannered critter, and very loved! We were blessed enough to get some hatching eggs from someone nearby, and we incubated him and his friends, so I feel like chicken Momma to him!
Maybe you can tell by his colors what kinds he may have in him!!
I’d love to see a picture of Big Boy too, if you don’t mind sharing!
Prayer absolutely works, and I’m so thankful that both of our roosters are proof! We’ll keep praying for y’all’s boy! And please pray our sweet blessing Lazarus doesn’t have anymore mystery illness!

 

[charlie1051]

HI Duck, I like to talk, I'm a talker and I'm interested in what people are doing and talking about, especially if it's got to do with fowl. And it takes conviction and guts to talk openly about God and Jesus these days, and anytime I see that someone is spreading the Good Word / News, or mentioning His name it makes me proud of that person, cause it's not an easy thing for me to do.

Yea those lice were easy to spot once I slowed down, got a flashlight, cleaned my specs and took a good look...and they were all over his neck and backside. I gotta say that D.E. works great! We treated him again yesterday and most of the lice were already dead from the treatment before, so in 1 week we were able to knock out about 90% of 'em!

We went ahead and treated the girls yesterday too but we didn't find any lice on them which we were real happy about. I am curious where he got the lice from.

Hey Lazarus is 1 good looking dude- I love his neck feathers!! He looks relaxed and happy. I love his color combo (crele / barring or cuckoo?). In one of your pictures it looks like he has feathered feet?

Thanks for your prayers for Big Boy and I'll for sure include Lazarus in mine! I'll take some good pictures of Biggy and post them back here. I do have pictures of him but they're grainy and also have other birds in the photos. Take Care Duck!!

 

[charlie1051]

Good morning/afternoon Duck, I've only posted 1 picture on here before, now I'm going to download 3 of Mr. big boy. I couldn't get good pics of him during the week cause I'd get home and it was close to dark. So I took a bunch of him this past weekend. He's back to himself, crowing and having a good ol time! Thanks Duckduck