HELP Paralyzed rooster unable to lift head

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

I honestly thought my rooster Saffron was dead when I found him. There were flys everywhere and he smelled BAD. He was on the ground with a chunk out of his comb and seemingly not moving and then as I was about to pick him up to check for any explanation to how he died... I saw him blink. I immediately picked him up and realized he was completely unable to lift his head and although he could wiggle his wings around and slightly kick his feet a little, he was completely unable to move or stand. I attempted to syringe feed him water mixed with poultry cell Incase it was a deficiency of some kind but I'm not entirely sure. Any ideas on what this could be? His vent is concerning though, it's all red and almost looks like it's extended outwards. The photo doesn't show his vent all that well but I managed to get a good video of it. I'll upload it and send it over to this thread to show you.

His comb is also cold to the touch and one of his eyes won't open. Although he's not that strong he is willing to swallow when I give him water... But he's refusing all food.ive checked him for injury... Nothing. Just a big chick of his comb that's dried. I'm unsure of what to do and I really need help

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

Any amount of help is indescribably appreciated!

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is your rooster? He has a prolapsed vent which could be from straining or constipation. Keep the cherry red tissue from drying out by covering with oil or mild ointment, petroleum jelly, etc. Were the flies and bad odor around his vent? A fungal infection called vent gleet (cloacitis) might be a problem. Symptoms are bare reddened skin, and a discharge with bad odor. Miconazole or other antifungal cream may be used on his vent area to treat infection. Check for any maggot larvae from the flies since that can be deadly.

Do you have another rooster or do you think he was attacked by a predator? I would treat him for shock with offering the electrolyte water up to his beak in a small cup, spoon or dropper. If he takes that, make a watery mash of his chicken feed and a little cooked egg. Keep him in a dim and quiet spot separated from others. Pictures of his comb may help. Is his eye swollen or is the eye intact?

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

How old is your rooster?

Just over 6 months

He has a prolapsed vent which could be from straining or constipation. Keep the cherry red tissue from drying out by covering with oil or mild ointment, petroleum jelly, etc.

Idk how but it went back in

Were the flies and bad odor around his vent?

A fungal infection called vent gleet (cloacitis) might be a problem. Symptoms are bare reddened skin, and a discharge with bad odor. Miconazole or other antifungal cream may be used on his vent area to treat infection.

That could definitely be the problem. Thank you so much for the info on treating it!!! He definitely hasn't been constipated but his poop is brownish orange with lots of clear liquid (I'm assuming the water is from the poultry cell I've been giving him). The skin around his vent is quite red but that may be from the feathers I cut away that were covered in fly eggs.

Check for any maggot larvae from the flies since that can be deadly.

I did and there were a few tiny tiny ones that I washed off.

Do you have another rooster or do you think he was attacked by a predator?

He doesn't fight with his brother much and his dad is chill with him and Saffron doesn't really have any interest in hens yet. But he does sit lower on the pecking order.

I would treat him for shock with offering the electrolyte water up to his beak in a small cup, spoon or dropper. If he takes that, make a watery mash of his chicken feed and a little cooked egg.

I've been syringe feeding him raw egg yolk and I've tried feeding him mash in a spoon and cup but he spits it out. He doesn't fight much with the yolk but I'm worried egg yolk alone isn't enough to keep him going.

Keep him in a dim and quiet spot separated from others.

I have him in my green house inaccessible to the others with plenty of ventilation so that it doesn't get too hot.

Pictures of his comb may help. Is his eye swollen or is the eye intact?

Here's a photo of him. His comb is a bit warmer now and I've looked at his closed eye and it's perfectly fine as far as I can tell, but for whatever reason he keeps it closed. Only thing is it's slightly more orangey yellow than the good eye which is more red/orangy.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you found maggots, repeat soaking his vent area in warm soapy water several times, since maggots can hatch for a day or more. This is known as fly strike.
Here is some info on flystrike:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/flystrike-in-backyard-chickens-causes/

Look him over for lice or mites as well. Lice eggs at the base of feathers look like this:

Here is some reading about vent gleet (cloacitis) :
https://www.tillysnest.com/2012/12/vent-gleet-prevention-and-treatment-html/

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

Thanks, that info is incredibly helpful!!! I am wondering why he'd be so unable to move though, he can't lift his head off the ground and can't stand either, I'm honestly not sure how to help him with that. I almost worried he had a spinal injury but since he can still move in not entirely sure

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

I soaked his back end in warm soapy water so hopefully that helps!

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you certain that your other rooster could not have turned on him? Sometimes a rooster will challenge another and be put in his place or run off, even if they have lived together peacefully in the past. Do your chickens free range? I still suspect he was injured, but chickens can get botulism from eating something dead that has been under water, or buried in the ground or compost. That causes complete paralysis of the feet and legs that spreads up the spinal cord to the wings and neck, eventually causing death from asphyxiation. But since he can move his wings and legs some, it would not be botulism. I would mix some watery chicken feed and offer it up to his beak often. Tube feeding would be another possibility.

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

Are you certain that your other rooster could not have turned on him?

I suppose it is possible, I planned on moving him to his own coop with his own hens this weekend actually since I was a bit worried about that happening

Sometimes a rooster will challenge another and be put in his place or run off, even if they have lived together peacefully in the past.

Yeah, I've been a bit worried about that happening. I only have 4 roosters free ranging with well over 30 hens but I've been wanting to divide them into smaller groups of 1 roo and about 6 hens.

Do your chickens free range?

His flock does, they sleep in the trees off in the forest near my house and he's usually off 20ft up in the tree next to the main group along with his sisters who are also lower ranks. I have three feeding locations to make sure low ranks in the flock can always have a place to eat safely and Saffron spends most of his time around the grow out coops

I still suspect he was injured, but chickens can get botulism from eating something dead that has been under water, or buried in the ground or compost. That causes complete paralysis of the feet and legs that spreads up the spinal cord to the wings and neck, eventually causing death from asphyxiation. But since he can move his wings and legs some, it would not be botulism.

He's gotten a bunch more strong today actually! I'm actually really surprised how much he's improved since I started giving him Poultry Cell. In fact he actually started jumping up and to the side while flapping around and he's been keeping his head up and looking around when his head is kept in an S shape! He also managed to eat another egg yolk that I had mixed with a bit more Poultry Cell and yeast! I just hope that'll be enough food to last him the night

I would mix some watery chicken feed and offer it up to his beak often. Tube feeding would be another possibility.

I've tried both but he won't eat or drink anything I offer him and attempting to tube feed just stressed him out so I've been nudging the syringe in the corner of his beak and slowly giving him the yolk or water that I've mixed with Poultry Cell

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

I'm just hoping he makes it through the night on two egg yolks