Help with rooster, he got beat up and I don't think he's going to make it

[Carchick]

Yesterday one of the male guineas (Big Bully) pulled out a bunch of Mr. Roo's back feathers. I didn't realize how badly off he was until last night....he could barely stand. He ate but did it lying down or on his side. This morning, he look like he was dead because he didn't move. I picked him up and he 'came back to life." He took a few steps and then laid back down but more on his side. I know he's an old rooster, I'm thinking somewhere around 8 (we got him as adult). Is there anything I can do for him at this point? There are no vets around here that take care of birds. Thanks for anything you can suggest.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Its good that he is eating and drinking. Hopefully he does not get too stressed out when you pick him up. Check him over for any big wounds. You can clean them with water and if you have any betadine you can mix that in with the water. I like using neosporine on wounds. It may be that the poor guy just has a lot of bruises and one of his legs is strained from the fight. Keeping him in a quiet spot with his food and water where he can recuperate will hopefully help.

 

[GranmaEm]

Is there anything I can do for him at this point?

One of the best suggestions I can make is to also give him some pain relief. They do SO much better when the pain is less. I've used Meloxicam 1mg/kg - once a day and others have used 1/4 of a 200 mg ibuprofen tablet in the place of that.

 

[silkies mama]

I had a chicken attacked by something and it put a big hole in her. About the size of a quarter. So big you could see into her back and see her meat. Heres what I did. I got some antibotic ointment (peopel stuff that has a pain relief in it) and squeezed a pile of it into her big hole. I smeared some on her torn up back. Kept her in the chicken coup for about 4 days. She gave up all hope of living. She was depressed, listless, and layed in a corner staring at the wall. On day 4 I tried to get her to walk. She could only hop barely on one leg. I stayed with her and put her with her best friends. She was desperate to be with them. Every step she took she improved. I gave her about 10 minutes with her buddies. It perked her up mentally, and she realized that her hurt and pain was not so bad after all. I worked with her like this for a couple of days. She got better so fast. The wound healed, beautifully, and she is back to normal and is my best layer with the biggest eggs.

I used to have Guineas, but I sold them, they were too agressive for my chickens and they were raised as newborns with them.

 

[Carchick]

Thanks for the suggestions. Right now he is in isolation for peace and quiet until I see him try to eat or drink....he is doing neither. He is completely out of it. I will put the ointment on him but how would I give him the ibuprofen? Do I open his beak and just put it in? What about water? I tried to put a few drops of water on his beak but he's not taking it.

My guineas normally leave the chickens alone but lately the one was getting a bit aggressive...I should've done something sooner.

Thanks for your help

 

[GranmaEm]

With the polish hen I mashed up her antibiotic and made a sludge with water and fed with a syringe. Same for water. It's easy to put too much down, so small volumes work best. The painkiller I had was a liquid, so that too I syringed into her mouth.

 

[Eggcessive]

If he is out of it, don't give him water or anything for pain, because he may aspirate (choke) and die. Do not give any ointment that has "caine" in the name--benzocaine, ect. that is for pain. Just keep him warm enough, quiet, and offer him some water and scrambled chopped eggs when he wakes up.

 

[Carchick]

He's already in a pet carrier w/ comfortable bedding and I will go ahead and put a heat lamp on him to keep him a bit warmer, thanks for your help.

 

[Eggcessive]

I hope he gets better.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Poor rooster. Keep trying to offer him water by dripping it along the side of his beak (which sounds like pretty much what you were trying to do) It's true, as Eggsessive said, putting liquids directly down the throat can risk aspiration. Hopefully with some rest he will be interested in drinking and eating again soon. I have had some seriously injured chickens who have made a full recovery, so don't give up hope. I was able to give one of my chickens a quarter of an aspirin by wrapping it in a bit of soft bread. But if your rooster has no interest in eating, that is not going to work now.