HELP!!!

[Boonie Stomper]

How is the rooster today? If you still can't get him to swallow water you may have to inject him.

Found this thread with details for rehyration: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/subcutaneous-fluids-and-injections.914094/

 

[nightowl223]

I have had three older hens that suffer from it. I was trying to help from my experience. I also tagged casportpony to give better advice. Yes there is different strains of it. I would assume we're talking about the chicken type here. Cocci is in all chickens and is spread in the chicken feces. I do know what cocci is and what it does.

It's not "in all chickens." It's in the soil, like e coli, but is not pandemic. Chickens can go their whole lives without contracting it. And there are various strains that don't even bother chickens at all, but will attack goats or other species. I've dealt with it myself, in multiple forms, and know what it is, as well.

 

[nightowl223]

@MissNutmeg How's your rooster? Would like an update, please.

 

[CCUK]

It's not "in all chickens." It's in the soil, like e coli, but is not pandemic. Chickens can go their whole lives without contracting it. And there are various strains that don't even bother chickens at all, but will attack goats or other species. I've dealt with it myself, in multiple forms, and know what it is, as well.

From the original post from the op a rooster that is lethargic not drinking so presumably not eating. In the picture he looks huffed up eyes closed. Symptoms of cocci. I suggested it could be and linked relevant information to TRY to help. It was after that it was decided that it could be a blockage of throat/crop and advice was given. Many ailments that chickens suffer from can also affect bovines, pigs, goats. Chickens can get cocci at any age but are more normally affected at a younger age. But can still get it if they haven't been exposed at an early age. I have had hens suffer several times a year from cocci and even lost two because of it. They can have it more than once. If they haven't had it the first time is normally worst. It is difficult to try and diagnose any problem with very little information and only a fecal sample and examination would give a full and accurate diagnosis.

 

[MissNutmeg]

I am so very very sorry I havent responded, my good ole notifications didn't alert me.


My rooster is still the same way, he is sitting on the perch doing nothing.

 

[Abriana]

I am so very very sorry I havent responded, my good ole notifications didn't alert me.


My rooster is still the same way, he is sitting on the perch doing nothing.

I’m sorry about your rooster Meg. Maybe poisoning of some sort? Do an epsom salt flush.
I hope that helps

 

[nightowl223]

I am so very very sorry I havent responded, my good ole notifications didn't alert me.


My rooster is still the same way, he is sitting on the perch doing nothing.

You need to take him off the perch, and bring him inside, say to your bathroom, and either put him in a crate or on a towel, near a heater. Immediately. Right away. Don't even take time to read the rest of this, just go! Put food and water where he can reach it. THEN come back and read the rest of this.

Now, watch very carefully for any poop. Update us with what it looks like. If he hasn't been eating, it will be very watery. If he's gone too long, it could start to turn bright green, which is emergency time. If his crop is empty, you need to get something in him. Immediately. Get some water with honey and ACV in it, at minimum, and dribble it over the top of his beak, out away from his nares [nasal openings], where it will run across the beak and into his mouth. He will almost certainly instinctively swallow. And keep trying until there's at least a tablespoon in him before you even give him a break.

Next, if you have baby vitamins with no iron, or powdered electrolyte & vitamin mix for animals, that needs in his water, next. Mix the electrolyte/vitamin powder into a bit of water until it is honey colored, and get that into him, same process as above. Or, if you have the baby vitamins, give him at least 2 or 3 drops, with the same method. As for his feed, soak that with the same blend of electrolyte/vitamin water mix, until it's a mush. That should help him digest it, if he will only try it. You might have to dip his beak into it a few times.

I never saw an answer about those pellets next to him in the picture. What were they?

Also, is there another rooster, or a very dominant hen?

 

[nightowl223]

And I sincerely hope you've adjusted your notifications, Miss Nutmeg! We need to get this fellow some nutrition soon, or he will die.

 

[nightowl223]

Especially since this has been going on for now over 3 days, he could die very quickly if nothing is done. @MissNutmeg Please let us know ASAP when you've gotten him moved inside and settled in to a warm place where he can begin to recover.

I ask about the existence of another rooster or a dominant hen because this could also be evidence of his spirit being "broken," for want of a better description. I have had 2 different roosters over the years get their hind ends kicked by another rooster something fierce. Both basically gave up wanting to eat or drink or interact at all. With one, with patience and a lot of work, he got over it and is now an excellent rooster. With the other, I couldn't get him to recover, and he simply gave up & died. (One more reason why I was so insistent about the whole coccidosis "diagnosis", as this was precisely how both of those roosters of mine acted, and there was no disease - not even really much of an injury - just that they gave up on life.)

 

[MissNutmeg]

Especially since this has been going on for now over 3 days, he could die very quickly if nothing is done. @MissNutmeg Please let us know ASAP when you've gotten him moved inside and settled in to a warm place where he can begin to recover.

I ask about the existence of another rooster or a dominant hen because this could also be evidence of his spirit being "broken," for want of a better description. I have had 2 different roosters over the years get their hind ends kicked by another rooster something fierce. Both basically gave up wanting to eat or drink or interact at all. With one, with patience and a lot of work, he got over it and is now an excellent rooster. With the other, I couldn't get him to recover, and he simply gave up & died. (One more reason why I was so insistent about the whole coccidosis "diagnosis", as this was precisely how both of those roosters of mine acted, and there was no disease - not even really much of an injury - just that they gave up on life.)

Okay so I spent about an hour earlier giving him at least one syringe full of nutri-drench, two syringe fulls of water and last but not least I made a thin watery mash made from the pellets (which are organic-based layer feed) and also used the syringe. Hmmmm there is another rooster in the flock who is the 'boss', maybe he is just giving up on life also, I hope not.

He is right now safely in a crate, I have a bowl of fresh water next to him, but he wouldn't drink at all, even with prompting.