My 3 Month Rooster Sick or Just Drinking a Lot?

[Efe]

My little rooster (3 months old) has been acting picky about food for a while. Sometimes he eats very little of his usual food, but when I offer something different like rice, he eats for a while until his crop is full, then can get bored and stop eating. For the past 3–4 days, his droppings have been watery or mixed with water, and he drinks a lot of water. He is probably drinking more because the weather is hot. However, sometimes I wonder whether he’s drinking a lot because he has diarrhea, or if his droppings are watery because he drinks a lot. Sometimes his droppings are loose and cloudy, so I suspect he might have diarrhea. His energy is inconsistent—sometimes he’s active during the day, and other times he just sits and sleeps. I’m keeping him at home; he doesn’t have access to a garden outside, so he might also be bored. His behavior might also be due to the heat. What should I do?

 

[ChickenChick46]

It could be heat since it's normal for them to drink more when it's really hot, but the lethargy, to me, signals that he's got something else going on. How many other birds besides this cockerel do you have? Is anyone else acting off? Is he puffed up or hunched? If it's possible he's got coccidiosis, you would want to start them on Corid ASAP.

 

[Efe]

This is an example. Rarely, he can produce runny droppings. Other times, he makes droppings that are not cloudy (meaning they contain solid pieces) but very watery, looking like normal water. Today, he produced one normal dropping.

 

[Efe]

It could be heat since it's normal for them to drink more when it's really hot, but the lethargy, to me, signals that he's got something else going on. How many other birds besides this cockerel do you have? Is anyone else acting off? Is he puffed up or hunched? If it's possible he's got coccidiosis, you would want to start them on Corid ASAP.

Thanks for your reply. I only have this one cockerel at home; there are no other birds. Sometimes he seems a bit lethargic, but he isn’t puffed up or hunched. It could be the heat causing him to drink more, but I’m still a bit worried since his droppings are sometimes runny or very watery. His appetite is inconsistent—he usually eats a little of his usual food, but if I offer something different, he may eat eagerly for a while until he gets bored and stops.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Maybe try a different brand of chick starter with him? If he doesn't seem to like his old feed, maybe he'll do better on a new brand. I don't think plain rice will give him all the nutrients he needs.

You may also try a little warm, mashed up, plain scrambled egg and see if that gives him a little energy back.

 

[Efe]

Maybe try a different brand of chick starter with him? If he doesn't seem to like his old feed, maybe he'll do better on a new brand. I don't think plain rice will give him all the nutrients he needs.

You may also try a little warm, mashed up, plain scrambled egg and see if that gives him a little energy back.

Thanks for your suggestions. This morning he ate some boiled egg, and I also gave him a new feed today. I mixed his chick starter feed with adult chicken feed to transition him, and he did eat it. However, right now his crop is flat and he isn’t eating anymore. When I give him something he likes, he can eat a lot more compared to this feed his crop fills up completely.

 

[ChickenChick46]

Thanks for your suggestions. This morning he ate some boiled egg, and I also gave him a new feed today. I mixed his chick starter feed with adult chicken feed to transition him, and he did eat it. However, right now his crop is flat and he isn’t eating anymore. When I give him something he likes, he can eat a lot more compared to this feed his crop fills up completely.

Interesting. Our experts here are @Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock. Maybe one of them has some more ideas. He's eating, even if not great, so that's definitely positive. His droppings didn't look bloody to me, but sometimes photos can be deceiving.

 

[Efe]

Interesting. Our experts here are @Eggcessive and @Wyorp Rock. Maybe one of them has some more ideas. He's eating, even if not great, so that's definitely positive. His droppings didn't look bloody to me, but sometimes photos can be deceiving.

He just produced one normal, solid dropping. After that, he also produced a very watery dropping that looks almost like clear water, and he is drinking a lot of water. Right now, when I stir the feed with my finger, he eats a bit more. It’s hard to tell whether he’s eating out of enjoyment or if he’s actually sick. However, his crop is still basically empty.

 

[ChickenChick46]

He just produced one normal, solid dropping. After that, he also produced a very watery dropping that looks almost like clear water, and he is drinking a lot of water. Right now, when I stir the feed with my finger, he eats a bit more. It’s hard to tell whether he’s eating out of enjoyment or if he’s actually sick. However, his crop is still basically empty.

I'm at a loss. Hopefully one of the people I tagged can jump in soon. The fact that he is eating and drinking still I would say are both positive.

 

[Efe]

I'm at a loss. Hopefully one of the people I tagged can jump in soon. The fact that he is eating and drinking still I would say are both positive.

Thank you so much. Have a nice day