Help- My rooster is sitting on floor bunched up

[gingerbean64]

My rooster - a Barred Rock, is no longer roosting and just sitting on the floor in a bunched up ball. He can move, but he has not been crowing. We assume that he is eating, but that has not been witnessed. He is my only rooster, with 13 little ladies in the chicken house. We live in Central New York where it gets pretty cold on a steady basis. Please help!

 

[JanetMarie]

He may either be cold or sick. Does he have frostbite on his comb and/or wattles?

 

[Outpost JWB]

Some questions for you..............

How does his poo look?

Is he eating?

What is he eating?

Is he drinking?

Have you checked him over for lice & mites?

When was the last time they were wormed?

Have you heard any heavy breathing?

Or seen any fluids running from nose or mouth?

 

[chooks4life]

Well, firstly hello and

Generally in order to get an idea what's wrong, we'll need more info.

When he moves, does it look like he's injured or in pain? Any limping, abnormal posture, face changing color rapidly (like going pale then normal color again suddenly?)

Are his feathers fluffed up, as in standing on end, or is he just hunching up? Completely puffing out can indicate nausea and toxicity, whereas hunching tightly more often indicates pain or being very cold (or both).

What's his poops like?

Is he breathing normally?

What's his face/comb/wattles like in terms of color... Paler than normal? Purple or darker around the edges? Mottled?

Is he eating at all? If in doubt, (this should be done anyway) check his crop first thing in the morning and see if it's emptied normally as it should have overnight. Should feel empty in the morning. You can check him right now and you'll know whether or not he's been eating. If it's very hard then it might be a crop blockage.

You may need to separate him in case any of your hens is an opportunistic bully.

Best wishes.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Everyone previously has asked good questions. How old is he? Did he receive any vaccines? If he is fairly young, coccidiosis could be a possible problem, especially since he is weak and puffed up. Look for diarrhea, or blood in poops, and the appetite would be poor. Corid or amprollium would be the best treatment. Worms can be a serious problem at any age, and SafeGuard or Valbazen are very good wormers. Check for mites since that can cause severe anemia and weakness. Give him fluids, some egg, and add water to his feed to make it mushy.

 

[gingerbean64]

He is just sitting in a hunched over fashion with his feathers fluffed up. Not sure if he is eating. He is usually the first one over to the food bowl, but not lately. don't see any blood in poop. He is almost 2 years old

 

[gingerbean64]

It turns out his one foot is frozen. We habe brought him in the house and crated him. Anything special we should do?

 

[Eggcessive]

Warm his foot gradually in warm, but not hot water. Vetericyn spray or iodine can be applied to the foot to help prevent infection. Daily warm epsom salt soaks while he is inside, may help soothe his foot and help to prevent infection. It may take days to weeks to see the extent of his frostbite. Sometimes toes or nails will be lost, but unfortunately part or all of a foot can turn black and fall off. Could you post a picture at some point? Sorry about your rooster.

 

[gingerbean64]

I will try to get picture in the morning. His comb and waddles are okay, just the one foot. Thanks. More to come tomorrow

 

[Eggcessive]

I have had some slight frostbite in toes because of a rooster getting his feet wet in a waterer. In very cold climates feet can freeze almost instantly from stepping into a water bowl in below zero weather. This is a very good link to read about frostbite care and prevention: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/12/frostbit-in-backyard-chickens-causes.html