little rooster appears dead, but isn't??

[natapple]

My OEGB roo flopped around like he had a broken neck then layed on his back like he was dead. He was very cold, the tips of his comb looked black, looked like he stopped breathing and was stiff. His poop looks normal. He did this before, so we moved him to a wire cage by himself, we thought that the hen just had enough of him covering her and hurt him. This time we wrapped him in a towel to warm him a bit. I have been trying to get him to eat some boiled mashed egg, and to drink. It seems as if his depth perception is off, he pecks at the egg, but doesn't get close enough to it to get any. I have been holding a little cup of water up to his beak, and he will drink a bit if I get a drop on the end of his beak, but he won't drink out of the cup.

 

[prariechiken]

What are you feeding them? Almost sounds like he was choking....If it is vision related and he retains any lameness it could be Mareks disease...give us a little more info as to his appearance now, etc...

 

[silkiechicken]

Almost sounds like a neurological problem. More info on his diet an things he could have possibly gotten into would be useful.

 

[natapple]

He is now kept in a wire bottom care, I use cage cups for water and feed, and he eats Neutrena?sp? laying crumbles. He used to be in a tractor with a banty hen. He doesn't gasp or sneeze, no rattling sounds when he breathes. Right now he is just sitting, his feet are warm and his comb is cold.

He is almost 1 year old. It was about a week after being at a show when we thought the hen beat him up when he did this before.

 

[natapple]

Looking through University of Florida's common poultry disease page, http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044#TABLE_2
I am wondering if it is encephalitis?
Anyone ever had a chicken with encephalitis??

 

[natapple]

Update on Ra. Woke him up, he seems alert. He ate some of his egg, still doesn't want water. Was looking around at the new surroundings, seeming to wonder what he was doing sitting in a big shoebox, but not minding it too much. His eyes are bright, but the tips of his comb is still dark, looks almost like frost bite. He seems a bit wobbly still, and moves his whole body when breathing. Mom went outside and accidentally woke up my sisters roo, and Ra started crowing back at him.

 

[sammi]

sounds heart related to me.

 

[dlhunicorn]

The color of the comb indicates cyanosis which indicates pulmonary insufficiency... this can be due to many things. There may have been some neuroligcial impairment and to prevent and help this you can p r i c k open a human vit E tab and give that over the course of the day every day for three days. ... you can also give three drops of Polyvisol Enfamil (unflavored > this is a childrens liquid vit A-B-D supplement) once a day for a week and if you can mix some wheatgermoil in his feed .
Quote:
STOP FEEDING LAYER CRUMBLES IMMEDIATELY...this has too much calcium. Put him on a grower ration feed...one in any case NOT for laying hens (look at the calcium content...it should not exceed 1.5%)
I would also suggest you put in a supplement like AviaCharge 2000 (you can purchase online from McMurray or Strombergs)

 

[greenapple]

Update for my DD. Ra seems perfectly fine this morning. Started crowing at 5 instead of 4 though, and his comb is back to normal and he is not wobbly.
I haven't seen anything other than starter and layer mash/pellets at my local feed store. I was told that brand layer would be okay since it doesn't have a high calcium content, and to make sure we supplement the girls with calcium.
I'll start the vitamins this morning and switch him to boiled egg till I get to the feed store.
After going over diseases with my DD, it seems we have a sick flock

All but four of the hens are showing a symptom, but none showing the same symptoms. I am waiting until the feed store opens to get some antibiotics, not sure if I need the Sulfa of Terramycin. Here is a list of symptoms, all but roo #1&3 and hen #3 is something that started this week:
hen #1 : brown runny poo
hen #2 : smells bad, but poo looks fine
hen #3 : feathers under vent missing and skin is red
roo #1 : lays down a lot and breathes with mouth open - figured that was because he is really old for his breed
roo #2 : had rattle sounds when he was breathing day before yesterday - just built a new run for him so he could get out of the dog crate and he went crazy over the new space scratching all over the new pen, calling for any girls, and a really long dirt bath, then he started with a rattle sound that went away after a few min. and hasn't returned.
roo #3 : Ra, could he be epileptic?

 

[dlhunicorn]

the only layer I know with a lower calcium content would be purina flock raiser (check the calcium prrcentage which should be on the package) ...if the starter is unmedicated you can use that for your roo and add some cooked human oatmeal to it.
Can you manage to get a faecal test for your sick birds?

If the birds are showing respiratory symptoms then it is probably better to go with an antibiotic for that.

Have you ever wormed your birds?> if not now might be a good time to do that but if you use anything other than the ivomec Eprinex (spot on application) then wait a good week after the antibiotic course (after giving the AB then be sure to offer a good poultry supplemental vitamin such as aviacharge2000 or similar general poultry supplement and be sure to offer free choice live culture yogurt)