My roo has air under his skin, and is acting sick. Photos included.

[Sharksandguitars]

I am guessing he must have gotten in a spat with my main rooster. I took him out of the pen, bathed and blow dried him, and popped the airsac. Now I have him inside in a brooder box. Oh, he is also having very watery poop. Should I get him some antibiotics? What should I do?

 

[CMV]

He has a ruptured air sac. It will heal on its own given enough time. Keep him still and quiet for a couple weeks to allow for healing. Limit his mobility as much as possible- a small, quiet cage where he can be warm and dry, preferably in a dimly lit room where he can do a lot of resting/sleeping. He is going to need it in order to heal that injury. You can drain off excess air that pools under his skin, but don't be too zealous in doing so.

I don't give antibiotics unless they are absolutely necessary, so I wouldn't advise them. There is no way of knowing what you would be treating for, so there is no way to know which antibiotic to use.

Good luck with him.

 

[Sharksandguitars]

could I mix some diamaceous earth in his water? would that help? He really looks bad He is still eating though. I will move him to a more secluded area of the house. I went to the feed store to get some terramycin powder that they told me they had.... and didn't have once I got there... I hate that feed store! I hope he survives...

 

[CMV]

I'm going to be honest- his chances aren't good.

Last year I had a duck get a ruptured air sac/lung puncture. She was healing nicely, improving daily until she got a little excited in the bathtub and started flapping around. She tore the air sac open again, her lungs collapsed, she seized up and died in under a minute. I was just getting ready to put her back with her flock because she had improved so much. These injuries are tough to heal and take a long time to fully heal.

DE in his water is not going to help or hurt either way.

I hope he makes it.

 

[Sharksandguitars]

Well he is doing good today. He is staying calm in the brooder box I have him in. He is sure pooping a lot though. I guess that means he is eating good We are in the process of building a new coop for my silkies, and I wont put him out until it is ready. He doesn't seem to mind being inside at all, which surprises me because he isn't the tamest chicken.

 

[LeezyBeezy]

Good news!

 

[CMV]

Glad to hear it.

 

[Sharksandguitars]

Bad news... When I woke up this morning I found some bloody poo in the brood box with Brutus. I am taking him to the vet this morning. I will let you know what he says.

 

[Sharksandguitars]

Brutus is on antibiotics and doing well.

 

[CMV]

Any updates on Brutus?