My rooster is dieing and I have no idea why!

[spiritdance]

Open his beak, hold his head out so his neck is straight, and look down his throat. Check for either a) white spots in his throat - thrush/sour crop, or b) thread-like or spagetti-like filaments in his throat or crop - gape or hair worms. Honestly, the congested noises and head hanging sounds like gape worms. They can propagate until they choke a bird to death. If you see them, you may have to reach in with tweezers and pull out any you can reach to try to open the airway, then treat for them immediately in ALL your birds.

ETA: be very careful if you pull any worms, as gapes can run up the throat from the lung, but if he's got them and he's this far along, you will need to clear an airway somehow

 

[Elite Silkies]

Does he open his mouth and stretch out his neck? I think that is the first sign of gap worm. It's been so hot here lately, I know were having temps over 100 degrees. One thermo was reading 115, not sure if it was correct, but I know it has been hot.

 

[NewToFarming]

He is still here this morning and does seem a bit stronger. He sure has been able to crow! I was able yo get him to drink a bit more and also gave him some mash. He took a few bites. It was warm here yesterday not not quite as bad as it has been earlier in the week. High 80's. So, he is a little stronger than last night and his breathing isn't quite as bad as it was last night either. I guess just try to keep with the vitamins, electrolytes and antibiotic???
I am wondering if that comb he has might obstruct his breathing??? I cannot tell where his nostrils are to check to see what is going on there. Maybe if he was pretty active defending the blind girl, combined with the heat, it takes a toll on him? I have no idea but he never acted like this before and it did seem to happen fast!
I did not see anything last night or this morning when he was crowing but will try to get a better look down his throat. He is not doing that "gaping" thing but sounds stuffy. It kind of reminded me of how it would be if a person had an allergic reaction and had throat swelling or something. That is the type of sound he made last night but not so much this morning. Does gape worm get worse at night?

 

[jerseygirl1]

I am glad he's better!! I read this whole post and was thinking, maybe it won't hurt to get him some antibiotics in his water? If it were gapeworm, I THINK antibiotics will kill it, but a wormer will not
Dawg is good at this, where is he?

 

[Judy]

Quote:
No, sorry, it's the other way around. Antibiotics have no effect on gapeworm. Cattle wormers called ivermectin or fenbendazole are the only things I know of that will kill them.

Yes, Dawg53 is good at this, I learned from him. Here you go:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=419463&p=2

 

[NewToFarming]

He is doing even better but still on the tired side. This is a major change from last night. He truly looked like he was one step away from dieing so what I am seeing now is a major difference.

Here are some pics of his crazy comb he has.

 

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
No, sorry, it's the other way around. Antibiotics have no effect on gapeworm. Cattle wormers called ivermectin or fenbendazole are the only things I know of that will kill them.

Yes, Dawg53 is good at this, I learned from him. Here you go:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=419463&p=2

I do have the ivermectin pour on will this work. I had treated everyone oh like back in February or early March and just put a couple of drops on their neck. Would I do the same for this? I also have a pro pet liquid dewormer. It says for cats. The generic name is Piperazine.

 

[Elite Silkies]

My lands, how does that poor boy breathe? I can't see a nostril anywhere. Is his left eye swollen shut?

 

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
I know!!! That is why I was saying I could not find nostrils to see what was going on with them because he sounded stuffy! No it wasn't swollen and his lid is kind of white. At first I also thought something was wrong or discolored with it but it was normal. He just kept his eyes closed alot. He is back 100% now so maybe it was heat and/or activity especially with not having nostrils!

 

[seminolewind]

I think you need to find his nostrils! Could his comb swelled over them? He really does need nostrils