Help! Sick Rooster with purple comb.

[chickiemomma]

A couple of days ago I noticed our 1 1/2 year old RIR rooster has lost weight. This morning I noticed his comb was turning purple. I watched him eat normally this morning. He seemed ok. He is now lying in the coop with yellow fluid coming out of his mouth. Anyone have any ideas of why this is happening and how to help him?

 

[wyliefarms]

No clue. It doesn't sound good.

Keep us posted.

 

[Crazy_Chicken_Lady]

It sounds most like Avian Influenza. As, the signs(to name a few) are weight loss, skin hemorrhages, darkned head, comb & wattles and/or swollen eyes, paralysis of legs, purplish shanks and rapid deaths. In postmotem they have a yellowish straw colored fluid beneath the skin of the face. If it is it's highly contagious. Sometimes they will also have bacterial or mycoplasmal disease along with it.

Tho it also resembles chlamydiosis, CRD, Newcastle, acute cholera or infectious laryngotracheitis.

It doesn't sound good. You need to disinfect the coop! Good luck and my prayers for your little rooster.

 

[chickiemomma]

None of my other chickens seem sick. Is this contagious?

 

[Crazy_Chicken_Lady]

According to my chicken book you should give antibiotic to prevent any secondary infection that might be along with the virus.

 

[chickiemomma]

What kind of antibiotic? Is there a cure?

 

[Crazy_Chicken_Lady]

Yes, highly contagious if it is Avian Influenza. Tho, birds can be immune but, they are carriers. Google it and you'll get lots of info and photos of infected birds.

 

[Crazy_Chicken_Lady]

Probably, a good broad spectrum antibiotic like Baytril (tho, you'd have to get at vet), Over the counter: Terramycin, Aureomycin, Tetra-Bac 324 Soluble Powder Tetracycline to name a few.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Are you talking about bird flu. Bird flu is not in the US is it?

 

[chickiemomma]

I thought there have been no documented cases of avian flu in the U.S., that's what the CDC says.

Could it be heart failure? He is extremely large compared to our other RIR rooster.