Help! My rooster is sick

[RodNTN]

@casportpony @azygous @Wyorp Rock

 

[LoveYourRoosters]

Ok thank you. That is a lot of help I think you should see if his crop empty’s maybe by withholding food for a few hours. I’m not a vet but I’ve had my fair share of Chicken emergency’s.
Also he is SUPER cute.

Yes, that was my plan. And he definitely is having trouble breathing, sitting still it isn’t very noticeable, but when I caught him he was breathing very hard

 

[Quackers3211]

Let me know how it goes. I’m going to be researching this and asking for advice from some vet friends.
I’ll let you know what they say.

 

[Quackers3211]

@castportpony is very knowledgeable about poultry. Try messaging him maybe he can help you as well.

 

[azygous]

If his comb has a grey or purple cast to it, that's the best indication that he has pulmonary issues. In the photo, his comb looks very red and healthy. Is it an old photo or taken recently after he became symptomatic?

A chicken that is having trouble breaking will have a clicking or rattle as they breathe. Fast breathing isn't really indicative of a problem since a lot of chickens breathe fast.

There are many causes of breathing problems. CRDs or respiratory illness is one cause. Another cause is avian viruses which cause tumors to grow on heart and lungs and other organs. I had a young cockerel with breathing problems that died from tumors that caused his liver to weigh two pounds. He had lymphotic leucosis. Marek's can also cause tumors.

I would try treating for CRDs since it's useless to treat for tumors. Nothing will make them go away. Tylan is a good antibiotic for CRDs if you can find it. My feed stores don't carry it so I ordered it from this place. https://pet-healthcare.revivalanimal.com/search?w=Tylan

 

[LoveYourRoosters]

If his comb has a grey or purple cast to it, that's the best indication that he has pulmonary issues. In the photo, his comb looks very red and healthy. Is it an old photo or taken recently after he became symptomatic?

A chicken that is having trouble breaking will have a clicking or rattle as they breathe. Fast breathing isn't really indicative of a problem since a lot of chickens breathe fast.

There are many causes of breathing problems. CRDs or respiratory illness is one cause. Another cause is avian viruses which cause tumors to grow on heart and lungs and other organs. I had a young cockerel with breathing problems that died from tumors that caused his liver to weigh two pounds. He had lymphotic leucosis. Marek's can also cause tumors.

I would try treating for CRDs since it's useless to treat for tumors. Nothing will make them go away. Tylan is a good antibiotic for CRDs if you can find it. My feed stores don't carry it so I ordered it from this place. https://pet-healthcare.revivalanimal.com/search?w=Tylan

His comb turns purple if he gets worked up(like when I caught him) but goes back to red once he’s calmed down
I just took the picture, showing him puffed up.
He is definitly straining to breathe more than I’d normal, and he is making a sort of wheezing, which is very quiet when he’s sitting still but I can still hear it when I get close to him. It was louder when I chased him to catch him.
Our farm store only has tylan 200, would that work? I’ve only read about using tylan 50
He is 3 years old and has always been perfectly healthy until now

 

[azygous]

There are other things that can cause a wheezing sound. Impacted crop can sometimes produce noises. Have you felt his crop? Empty? Full? Sift and squishy? Hard and lumpy?

Have you looked down his throat with a strong light? Sometimes foreign objects get lodged in the throat or wrapped around the tongue.

The Tylan 200 is actually ideal for chickens. I don't know the dose. Maybe @Eggcessive knows it.

 

[LoveYourRoosters]

There are other things that can cause a wheezing sound. Impacted crop can sometimes produce noises. Have you felt his crop? Empty? Full? Sift and squishy? Hard and lumpy?

Have you looked down his throat with a strong light? Sometimes foreign objects get lodged in the throat or wrapped around the tongue.

The Tylan 200 is actually ideal for chickens. I don't know the dose. Maybe @Eggcessive knows it.

His crop feels fairly full, kind of squishy. I have not looked down his throat, not sure I know what to look for...
I would expect an impacted crop to be hard (I’ve had a chicken or two in the past that had that) but it might make sense if he did have an impacted crop, to explain why he’s got small, green runny poo (as I understand it, that is a symptom of a chicken not eating enough)

 

[azygous]

Sour crop is full and squishy and sometimes has a sauerkraut odor and sometimes no odor. If he hasn't been eating, his crop should be empty and flat.

To confirm a crop disorder, you need to check it in the morning before he's given food and water. If, come morning, he has the same full, squishy crop, you will need to be ready to begin treatment. Read through my article on crop disorders so you'll be informed and prepared to deal with what you find. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Crop disorders often produce a wheezing sound, so this rooster may not be sick from a virus after all. If you do smell a sour smell coming from around his head, that would also be strong evidence of either impacted or sour crop. It does no harm to treat for both in case you aren't certain which you're dealing with.

 

[LoveYourRoosters]

I didn’t feed him overnight. This am his crop still has food in it, but possibly less. I can’t tell much difference in his breathing, though his comb looks slightly more purple
Gave him a shot of Baytril last night per a bird rehabber/vet friends instructions.