fifenashia
Songster
Hey all, Hopefully someone will be able to provide me some information as I'm stuck here.
My 5 week old Rooster was brought home with 5 other hens (when they were only a few days old) and did great until last week. I came out one day and he was in the brooder with his head on the ground, rear end in the air and beak facing up! The hens were totally walking on his face and he was very stressed, flopping around backwards and stumbling.
When I picked him up, his head lolls forward as if he cant hold it up on his own. I separated him and took him back to Southern States hoping someone would know something. No luck there. I brought him home and filled his waterer with electrolyte water. The next day he looked a little better, he picked at some food.
Then he went back down, now he cant eat or drink on his own and I have to hold him with my hand and hold a container filled with vitamins, raw egg, water and some of his chick starter in it. He will lift his head to eat a bite then lay it back on its side on my hand.
When I feel his neck, it feels like a corkscrew, like it spiral's around. He cannot hold it up for any significant time but he has been preening briefly today and he does have a great appetite and will sleep on me during our feedings. He is also drawing up his left foot and clenches it. He will relax it if I put it in my hand but it's still kind of scary. It gets worse when he is stressed out as he starts running backwards in a circle dragging his head behind (in front of?) him.
He is currently receiving 200mg of vit E and selenium, and 500mg vit b12 daily. He gets it all as he finishes the food bowl in about 3 or 4 feedings throughout the day. This regime started last Saturday.
My questions are this:
Does this sound like a vitamin deficiency?
Am I giving him a high enough dose of vitamins?
Is this mean keeping him alive or should I cull him?
Any information would be great, we are going on a week with the vitamins and my husband swears there is no improvement. We are also concerned that his feet drawing up could indicate a neurological disorder.
I have never culled a bird and quite frankly will probably take him to my vet to do it. He is my pet, we love him and I hate the thought of losing him if there is any possibility to save him.
Thanks!
My 5 week old Rooster was brought home with 5 other hens (when they were only a few days old) and did great until last week. I came out one day and he was in the brooder with his head on the ground, rear end in the air and beak facing up! The hens were totally walking on his face and he was very stressed, flopping around backwards and stumbling.
When I picked him up, his head lolls forward as if he cant hold it up on his own. I separated him and took him back to Southern States hoping someone would know something. No luck there. I brought him home and filled his waterer with electrolyte water. The next day he looked a little better, he picked at some food.
Then he went back down, now he cant eat or drink on his own and I have to hold him with my hand and hold a container filled with vitamins, raw egg, water and some of his chick starter in it. He will lift his head to eat a bite then lay it back on its side on my hand.
When I feel his neck, it feels like a corkscrew, like it spiral's around. He cannot hold it up for any significant time but he has been preening briefly today and he does have a great appetite and will sleep on me during our feedings. He is also drawing up his left foot and clenches it. He will relax it if I put it in my hand but it's still kind of scary. It gets worse when he is stressed out as he starts running backwards in a circle dragging his head behind (in front of?) him.
He is currently receiving 200mg of vit E and selenium, and 500mg vit b12 daily. He gets it all as he finishes the food bowl in about 3 or 4 feedings throughout the day. This regime started last Saturday.
My questions are this:
Does this sound like a vitamin deficiency?
Am I giving him a high enough dose of vitamins?
Is this mean keeping him alive or should I cull him?
Any information would be great, we are going on a week with the vitamins and my husband swears there is no improvement. We are also concerned that his feet drawing up could indicate a neurological disorder.
I have never culled a bird and quite frankly will probably take him to my vet to do it. He is my pet, we love him and I hate the thought of losing him if there is any possibility to save him.
Thanks!
