Help! My rooster can't stand

[Wyorp Rock]

What color is his poop?

 

[ChickenMa18]

Help! The other day I noticed when my rooster was eating he would lay down, when I walked up to him he would attempt to run off but would stumble while running and ran slower.

I separated him thinking may be he just got cold because he free ranges and refuses the coop. I put him in a large cage in my shed with plenty of food, water and bedding to keep warm. Checked on him throughout the day and he was the same.
Went out the next morning at feeding time to check on him and he wouldn't stand up. His legs work, he kicks when I mess with his feet and when he tries to get away from me but he cannot hold any weight on his legs.

He is eating and drinking fine from what I can tell and he doesn't seem to have lost any weight... i have treated for scales leg mites.. I'm not sure what else to treat for and I am really hoping it is not Mereks.

And help would be amazing! THANKS!

What color is his poop?

Brown...

What color is his poop?

Brown

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is he having difficulty breathing?
Hard to know why he has suddenly lost the use of his legs. Marek's disease does come to mind, but he's going on 2 years old...

I would stop the layer feed, give him chick starter or flock raiser. Give him B-Complex (1/2 tablet for the big boy) and see that he's drinking well.
Check to make sure his crop is emptying overnight.

He may benefit from being placed in a sling periodically during the day - like you have time to make a sling while cooking, cleaning, helping kids with school, etc. Some birds don't tolerate a sling so you will have to see how he does.

Without figuring out what is causing his decline - all these suggestions are just supportive care measures to see if he can overcome and improve, sort of like a shot in the dark here.
He's a handsome fella. I have a soft spot for roosters so I hate to see him not doing well.

 

[ChickenMa18]

I

Is he having difficulty breathing?
Hard to know why he has suddenly lost the use of his legs. Marek's disease does come to mind, but he's going on 2 years old...

I would stop the layer feed, give him chick starter or flock raiser. Give him B-Complex (1/2 tablet for the big boy) and see that he's drinking well.
Check to make sure his crop is emptying overnight.

He may benefit from being placed in a sling periodically during the day - like you have time to make a sling while cooking, cleaning, helping kids with school, etc. Some birds don't tolerate a sling so you will have to see how he does.

Without figuring out what is causing his decline - all these suggestions are just supportive care measures to see if he can overcome and improve, sort of like a shot in the dark here.
He's a handsome fella. I have a soft spot for roosters so I hate to see him not doing well.

No, not issues with his breathing.
I will definitely try the chick starter and the sling. He has a special place in my heart so I hate to see him down. I brought him back from deaths door his first summer after he got too close to the hog pen and one tried pulling him in by his wing. That resulted in him loosing over half that wing... but he has never let that get him down and besides not being able to fly up into the trees or onto a high perch he gets around and does all the chicken things just like any other....

 

[webmistress32]

My first go to would be vitamin E, vitamin B and selenium supplementation.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I


No, not issues with his breathing.
I will definitely try the chick starter and the sling. He has a special place in my heart so I hate to see him down. I brought him back from deaths door his first summer after he got too close to the hog pen and one tried pulling him in by his wing. That resulted in him loosing over half that wing... but he has never let that get him down and besides not being able to fly up into the trees or onto a high perch he gets around and does all the chicken things just like any other....

Sorry for my delay in response, I was out of town for a while.. I saw some good suggestions and you gave great answers..

How is he doing today? Any changes?

You are correct that he is not an EE. I cannot see ANY evidence of SLM in your photos.. but it's super easy to confuse aging or dry scales with slm.. is that flaky looking stuff just shavings? In fact his legs looks perfect but his feathers are showing they either have mites/lice OR are nearly in need of his annual molt if it hasn't taken place already.

If he is having a major parasitic conditions (it happens, not pointing any fingers).. he could be suffering from anemia or any number of nutrient complications.. did you already check after dark using a flashlight.. with feathers parted down to skin and look for anything running away OR angry red skin.. just below the vent and on the abdomen.. also run a white paper towel under the roost to inspect for what most folks call "red roost mites" which live in cracks of wood and only come out to feed on the animals but don't actually live ON the animal..

I highly doubt Marek's at this point, but please refresh me on details.

 

[ChickenMa18]

Sorry for my delay in response, I was out of town for a while.. I saw some good suggestions and you gave great answers..

How is he doing today? Any changes?

You are correct that he is not an EE. I cannot see ANY evidence of SLM in your photos.. but it's super easy to confuse aging or dry scales with slm.. is that flaky looking stuff just shavings? In fact his legs looks perfect but his feathers are showing they either have mites/lice OR are nearly in need of his annual molt if it hasn't taken place already.

If he is having a major parasitic conditions (it happens, not pointing any fingers).. he could be suffering from anemia or any number of nutrient complications.. did you already check after dark using a flashlight.. with feathers parted down to skin and look for anything running away OR angry red skin.. just below the vent and on the abdomen.. also run a white paper towel under the roost to inspect for what most folks call "red roost mites" which live in cracks of wood and only come out to feed on the animals but don't actually live ON the animal..

I highly doubt Marek's at this point, but please refresh me on details.

Thanks for your reply those are just shavings you are seeing in the photos. I didn't think he has SLM but I have also never had a run in with those so wasn't really sure what they looked like which is why I went ahead and treated.

I did look him over for lice and didn't see any evidence but have not checked him at night. I will do that tonight.

Unfortunately he is not doing any better. Still has movement in his legs but cannot stand. He eats and drinks throughout the day. He perks up when I am near him.
I have tried a chicken sling and he doesn't like it and his legs just end up point behind him. When he eats he moves his legs like he would if he were standing up and scratching the ground. If it weren't for his legs not working you'd never know anything was wrong....