Help, dead rooster and sick hen...

[farmsister]

Our rooster was dead yesterday in the coop after Sunday suddenly coming down with something. His comb had turned purple and he wasn't eating but he was drinking some water. He also had tremors in his feet and kept picking them up and stretching them his toes out. I thought yesterday one of the 5 hens wasn't behaving like herself and so I've kept a close eye on her. Egg production seems pretty normal but she is missing all of the feathers on both sides of her neck and on her rear she is missing some feathers and has evidence of some white dried stuff. She feels very warm and the poo was stuck to her feet, they also look a bit swolen on the bottom. Her eyes seem alert but I think something is wrong. I don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be a huge blessing.

Thanks.

 

[justusnak]

Sounds to me like poisoning. Is there any chance they could have gotten into something? Have you sprayed the yard lately or has anyone near you sprayed? Do you use rat/mouse poison? I would take the deceased to a vet for a necropsy....just to make sure you dont have anything contagious to your other birds. good luck .... I hope the rest are ok...let us know!

 

[eggchel]

Farmsister, Call your county agriculture extension offices or University extension and ask if they do necropsies of poultry. In CA it is done by Univ of CA at Davis or several related labs. There is no charge because they are attempting to safeguard the states poultry flocks by watching for outbreaks of disease.
Here is a link to state vets for all states.
http://agr.wa.gov/FoodAnimal/AnimalHealth/StateVets.htm

Separate any birds that appear to be ill from the rest of your flock.
Read thru some of the poultry health info linked below, and to try to determine the illness based on symptoms.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/asbc/message/39414
http://www.msstate.edu/dept/poultry/dissymp.htm
http://www.organic-vet.reading.ac.uk/Poultryweb/miscel/Default.htm

chel