My Rooster is Gargling

[newburt]

My Rhode Island Red Rooster is gargling when he breathes heavy and his crowing is really sickly sounding. His cone is still bright red but he acts like he has a respiratory infection or something. WHat do I need to look for and what can I do to help him get over this and will he spread this to my hens? Is it best to let him fight this off naturally or medicate him?

 

[deerlady11]

Hello there Newburt. There is A LOT of good information in this post... https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/756287/what-to-do-with-rooster.
Should answer just about all your questions because everyone involved in it has been very helpful. Hope your Rooster gets to feeling better.

 

[newburt]

Thank you. I did read this post and I learned something new already. I should have quarantined this roo before I put him with the rest of the flock. Made my first and sure not to be the last mistake. The only symptom I can positively I.D. is that he is making a gurgling sound when breeding a hen and when he breathes really hard and his crow sounds horrible.

 

[newburt]

Well its day Three since I first noticed the gurgling. Today a friend and I quarantined this Roo to another enclosure and put him on Duramyacin. The symptoms have not changed. He is still spry as ever and his cone is still good and red, his legs are good and warm and his chest is good and firm. Two days ago his chest was really mushy feeling so I guess there is still improvement. Will continue to post as the days pass. I really hope my hens dont start showing similar symptoms.

 

[newburt]

I actually layed on the ground next to the run this evening for about an hour observing the rooster and the hens and tried to become more familiar with whats normal activity and whats not and I definately know that I have to expand the run, but I was able to see that the rooster only gurgled when he did something strenuous like chase down and try to breed a hen and he would gurgle for about 30-45 seconds after that and then he would shake his head once or twice and calm down and go back to normal. I actually videoed him doing this but I havent figured out how to post in on this thread.