My poor rooster sounds terrible

[Wyorp Rock]

I've been keeping an eye on him lately because he's been sorta pitiful looking and sure enough something is wrong. First off a few weeks ago he was scratching his belly as he walked and I had just put a new roosting board up so thought he might have mites. I dusted him somewhat and the whole coop with poultry dust. Then a couple of weeks ago some dogs got after him but he seemed to just be missing feathers although still kinda in shock or something. Anyway today he is doing this labored breathing and it doesn't sound good, poor thing.

I gave him some Tylan 50 and put VetRx around his nose and in his water but I hate to hear him suffer. Suggestions anyone?

How much ventilation do you have in your coop?

It looks like he is suffering from a respiratory illness, but it would be a good idea to look inside his beak for any obstructions, plagues/lesion or canker. Smell his breath.

You mention that he was scratching his belly as he walked? Check his crop first thing in the morning to make sure it's empty.

What dosage of Tylan50 are you giving him? How much does he weigh?

 

[alisacarlee]

How much ventilation do you have in your coop?

It looks like he is suffering from a respiratory illness, but it would be a good idea to look inside his beak for any obstructions, plagues/lesion or canker. Smell his breath.

You mention that he was scratching his belly as he walked? Check his crop first thing in the morning to make sure it's empty.

What dosage of Tylan50 are you giving him? How much does he weigh?

I just found him drinking some so that is encouraging. Tonight will be round 3 of Tylan 50. We are giving him 1/2 cc per day. I haven't weighed him but he's a full size RIR although he feels a little lighter than in the past.

The high stepping seems to be better but he still does lift his legs high and when he does that his spur rubs against the other leg so it seems to be intentional but could just be some new habit, I don't know. When he was scratching before it was on his thigh/belly area.

I checked his crop and it appears to be empty. We've been trying to keep from bothering him too much so he can breathe.

 

[alisacarlee]

Here's a picture of our coop as it was being built. It's worked well for the past 3 years although I have done a better job in the past of cleaning it out every day than here lately. I try not to let it get to where you can smell any ammonia. I keep the side door open throughout the day but there is no screen so I lock it up at night. They have 2x4s in there to roost on now and their noses are right up by the ventilation at the top where he ran the hardware cloth all the way around.

 

[Eggcessive]

Tylan dosage is 0.25 or 1/4 ml per pound given 3 times daily, for 5 days, so you may want to increase his dose, and give it for a full 7 days. I would take a flashlight and with another pair of hands look into his throat for any mucus, white spots, or yellow patches. Check if there is a bad odor as well. He needs to drink more if his poops are mostly white urates.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I just found him drinking some so that is encouraging. Tonight will be round 3 of Tylan 50. We are giving him 1/2 cc per day. I haven't weighed him but he's a full size RIR although he feels a little lighter than in the past.

high stepping seems to be better but he still does lift his legs high

I checked his crop and it appears to be empty. We've been trying to keep from bothering him too much so he can breathe

@Eggcessive has given you good information about the dosage for Tylan50.
Try to weigh him and increase your dose accordingly.

I understand you are not wanting to stress him, next time you give him his medication, please take a look inside his beak for anything out of the ordinary and take a good whiff while your at it.

The high stepping if you have a video of that it would be good. Upload to youtube, then provide us a link.

 

[Criticalicious]

You can get an OK kitchen scale from Walmart for $15-$20 in the kitchen tools section.

 

[alisacarlee]

We will try to weigh him. He is drinking more and finally sitting/resting today. I think I heard him try to crow this morning.

We checked down his throat with a flashlight first day and it was clear with no smell.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am glad that he is drinking more and calmer. I hope he is eating as well. Let us know how he gets along.

 

[MilesFluffybutt]

I don't know if this has been suggested, but consider softening his feed into a mash. Maybe mix it with some fresh fruit and yogurt, it might encourage him to eat more. And if you can, pick up some Harrison's Recovery Formula. It's good stuff.

 

[alisacarlee]

I am glad that he is drinking more and calmer. I hope he is eating as well. Let us know how he gets along.

He seems to be getting a little better and he ate food today!!!