Help! My rooster is rattling.

[JudyMcKinn]

My RIR rooster, Big Red, is about 18 months old. Just today, I notice he is rattling when he breathes. He looks great, none of his 20 girls are doing it, and if I was a little deaf I wouldn't know anything was wrong. But today he has quite a rattle--sounds almost like he is snoring. He must have congestion. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do for him? We have had some cold weather--been down to 15 or 20F a couple nights, but they have a nice, draft free chickenhouse, 11ft by 12ft, with 20 chickens in it. They get warm water every morning, as I have had to break the ice on their water now that it is freezing. It warms up during the day. Suggestions??

 

[ChickLuver]

Try some poultry vet rx. It's all natural and is GREAT stuff. Warm it up and drip 2-3 drops in his mouth. At night put some on his head and under his wings. It's kind of like vicks for poulrty! Good luck with your Roo!!!

 

[JudyMcKinn]

I never heard of Vet Rx. do you get it at a farm store? I do know our vet knows NOTHING about chickens, so he wouldn't have it. But am going to town tomorrow, so maybe I can find it, if it is at a farm store.??

 

[speckledhen]

Judy, VetRx is like Vicks Vaporub for birds. You can get it from the feedstore or western store. It doesn't cure anything, just may make breathing a bit easier. Not knowing what he has, cant really recommend an antibiotic specific to the disease. I decided ages ago not to treat respiratory illness because of the carrier status of many of these diseases, but usually, Tylan injectible is a good, all purpose respiratory antibiotic.

 

[ChickLuver]

I agree. Tylan is wonderful! But respiratory stuff is soo hard to treat with birds and it can spread through your whole flock super fast!!!

 

[JudyMcKinn]

How much Tylan, Speckled? And, what if it spreads thru the whole flock? Does it kill them, or do I have to get rid of them, or what?

 

[ChickLuver]

Depending on size of birds....Banty's get 1cc of tylan 50 and 3-5lb birds get 3cc. I just went through it with my guys. In the breast muscle for 3 days. That should nip it in the bud. But how long has he been showing symptoms?? Anything else besides funny breathing?

 

[corydonald]

post nasal drip maybe
even i have it

 

[JudyMcKinn]

The first and only symptoms I have seen were today, and just the rattling sound. He seems alert, active, etc. Looks fine.

 

[speckledhen]

Hard to say what the issue is, Judy. Some diseases, like Coryza and Chronic Respiratory Disease, can make a bird a carrier for life, able to infect others even when that bird has seemingly recovered. With just that one symptom, it's difficult to say exactly what is wrong with your poor boy.