Neurologic symptoms in 5yr old rooster

[julieolsen118]

Final update:
Mr. Potato died on Day 4 in the afternoon. He appeared to be having seizures. I decided against a necropsy and buried him next to his lady Mrs. Potato. If any of our other birds have similar symptoms we will consider a necropsy.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. If you have any other birds with a similar problem, I would update your thread.

 

[julieolsen118]

Hi, I was searching for rooster issues when I came across this thread. My rooster is also 5.5 years old and is going through almost all the same things. He stumbles often, more if he has to go up or down stairs, or bend over to eat and had a hard time keeping his balance and his wings drop often. I have found him sleeping on the coop floor because he can't keep his balance on the roosting bar, that might be why yours might be in the nesting box... safer than falling backward off the bar, which I have witnessed. Mine has been like this for a few weeks and physically he doesn't seem to be getting better or worst but it seems like he is getting more confused. The latest is that I have to guide him back to the coop at night. To me it seem like a brain injury, or heart failure, he seems to be dazed and confused. I don't know if this is much help to you but I wanted to share what is happening with me and I will follow your thread to see if anyone has any golden information. If anything changes with my fellow I will re-post here with an update.

Hi there,
I'm so sorry to hear about your rooster. Though he had very minor and vague behavior changes before the more notable symptoms occurred, Mr. Potato was unable to stand eat or drink. It was a rapid onset. My guess is that he either had a respiratory infection that affected his brain causing an encephalitis, a stroke, or seizures. I hope your guy shows improvement, im rooting for him!

 

[Morrison1020]

Final update:
Mr. Potato died on Day 4 in the afternoon. He appeared to be having seizures. I decided against a necropsy and buried him next to his lady Mrs. Potato. If any of our other birds have similar symptoms we will consider a necropsy.

Sorry for your loss, you did everything you could have done. I’m a nurse too so I understand the heart pulling.
I was hoping you would get a necropsy to help the rest of us going through the same thing.
My girl has been going through the same thing since the 7th of this month we tried everything I will be bringing her to Uconn to be euthanized and for a necropsy on Monday if she makes it till then

 

[julieolsen118]

Sorry for your loss, you did everything you could have done. I’m a nurse too so I understand the heart pulling.
I was hoping you would get a necropsy to help the rest of us going through the same thing.
My girl has been going through the same thing since the 7th of this month we tried everything I will be bringing her to Uconn to be euthanized and for a necropsy on Monday if she makes it till then View attachment 2310216

I'm so sorry about your girl. It truly is heartbreaking. Our decision against the necropsy was largely because it gave us far more comfort to bury him next to his best friend and on our property. The rest of our flock is healthy, and if other chickens present with these symptoms will opt for a necropsy at that time. So sorry you're dealing with this too <3

 

[Morrison1020]

I'm so sorry about your girl. It truly is heartbreaking. Our decision against the necropsy was largely because it gave us far more comfort to bury him next to his best friend and on our property. The rest of our flock is healthy, and if other chickens present with these symptoms will opt for a necropsy at that time. So sorry you're dealing with this too <3

I totally understand that. Unfortunately my hen took a turn for the worse this evening couldn’t hold her head up I new she was dying I had to end her suffering (the hardest thing I ever had to do) I will be dropping my girl off for a necropsy tomorrow afternoon I just need some answers. I did everything I new to do and had the vet visit as well somethings are just out of our control but I hope to have more knowledge on what to do if I ever come across this again. Thank you for sharing your story

 

[julieolsen118]

I totally understand that. Unfortunately my hen took a turn for the worse this evening couldn’t hold her head up I new she was dying I had to end her suffering (the hardest thing I ever had to do) I will be dropping my girl off for a necropsy tomorrow afternoon I just need some answers. I did everything I new to do and had the vet visit as well somethings are just out of our control but I hope to have more knowledge on what to do if I ever come across this again. Thank you for sharing your story

Oh I'm so sorry . I truly feel your pain. You did everything you could and I'm sure your hen felt your loving care. If you feel up to sharing her results I'd be curious to know. Be well and take it easy in these times

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for your loss @Morrison1020 .

 

[Morrison1020]

Oh I'm so sorry . I truly feel your pain. You did everything you could and I'm sure your hen felt your loving care. If you feel up to sharing her results I'd be curious to know. Be well and take it easy in these times

got some of the report but not the final report all I got from reading it was she was a hot mess! I messaged my vet with it to see if I should be treating my other girls for anything.
3573
Lungs: pulmonary pallor, locally extensive, marked
Liver: hepatomegaly with mottling pallor, diffuse, marked
Spleen: splenic congestion, diffuse, marked
Coelom: coelomitis, diffuse, mild
Eyes: corneal hypopyon, bilaterally focal, marked with conjunctivitis, bilaterally diffuse, marked
Trachea: catarrhal tracheitis (presumed)
Heart: epicardial pallor, multifocal, mild
Vertebral column: hemorrhage and separation of C2 and C3, locally extensive, marked
Multiple significant gross findings were found within the lungs, liver, spleen, and eyes. The changes seen in these organs could be due to bacterial infection (e.g. Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli), neoplastic process (e.g. Marek’s disease), or viral infection. The changes seen around the C2 and C3 vertebrae are consistent with the history of attempted cervical dislocation. The subcutaneous nodules are indicative of a mite infection. The foci on the ovary are indicative of developing follicles. Samples were submitted for culture which are pending. Testing for Avian Influenza was negative. Tissue samples were collected for histopathology, which are also pending.
LABORATORY FINDINGS
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS RESULTS:
TEST REQUEST: Influenza A Virus Matrix PCR - Live Bird Market
NO. ANIMAL ID SAMPLE IAV MATRIX _______________________________________________________________________________________
Nina Tracheal Swab Not Detected _______________________________________________________________________________________ Zeinab Helal, Ph.D, Lead Technician Molecular Diagnostics, Technical Assistant Mastitis and Microbiology 8/31/2020
UPDATE: PCR results for avian samples are reported as "detected" (instead of positive) or "not detected" (instead of negative) and include the cycle threshold (Ct) value. The lower the Ct value, the more nucleic acid was detected.
PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS

HISTORY:
Owner received this chicken and her sister from Deb Ford on 6/4/2020. Deb stated that they were 1.5 years old. She said that this particular chicken had been separated from her flock for most of her life because she could never successfully integrate them. This chicken would always be picked on, and would surely be killed in her flock. Owner has kept her and her sister separated from the flock the whole time she's had this hen. She has always been a quieter chicken, never roamed much, doesn't like treats, almost depressed. On 8/10/2020, owner noticed hen acting more strangely, was head bobbing. Owner separated hen from her sister and began treatment for wryneck. Vet came by on 8/11/2020, said it was not wryneck, but gave her Bactrim and meloxicam. Chicken was treated with both medications as ordered. Head bob had stopped, but continues to decline. Needed to be fed, refused water, and appeared to lose eyesight. Feed and water mixed to try to get enough into her. Rx for coccidia with Corid. Flock developed coccidia, although stools were normal for this chicken. On 8/26/2020, owner noticed head bobbing was back and was refusing to eat or drink later in the afternoon. Neck was limp, eyes remained closed, pale comb and wattles, no respiratory distress noted. Cervical dislocation performed via broomstick method to end hen's suffering.
GROSS FINDINGS:
A 1.5 year old female, black and brown, 430 g Frizzle chicken was presented for postmortem examination. On physical examination, the keel was prominent and a palpable space between the C2 and C3 vertebrae. The chicken was in poor nutritional condition with scant adipose stores. Bilaterally, the conjunctiva was reddened and thickened. Bilaterally, the eye balls had focal, white areas beneath the cornea. There was hemorrhage around the musculature of the C2 and C3 vertebrae. There are pinpoint foci dispersed multifocally through the subcutis and the serosal surface of the crop. There was yellow, opaque fluid within the trachea that extended up into the nasal cavity. The lungs were discolored white to grey locally extensive dorsally with the left lung being the most severely afflicted. The heart had streaks of pallor in the epicardium. About 2ml of yellow, clear fluid was within the coelomic cavity. The liver was markedly enlarged with mottled appearance. The spleen was enlarged and congested.

 

[julieolsen118]

got some of the report but not the final report all I got from reading it was she was a hot mess! I messaged my vet with it to see if I should be treating my other girls for anything.
3573
Lungs: pulmonary pallor, locally extensive, marked
Liver: hepatomegaly with mottling pallor, diffuse, marked
Spleen: splenic congestion, diffuse, marked
Coelom: coelomitis, diffuse, mild
Eyes: corneal hypopyon, bilaterally focal, marked with conjunctivitis, bilaterally diffuse, marked
Trachea: catarrhal tracheitis (presumed)
Heart: epicardial pallor, multifocal, mild
Vertebral column: hemorrhage and separation of C2 and C3, locally extensive, marked
Multiple significant gross findings were found within the lungs, liver, spleen, and eyes. The changes seen in these organs could be due to bacterial infection (e.g. Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli), neoplastic process (e.g. Marek’s disease), or viral infection. The changes seen around the C2 and C3 vertebrae are consistent with the history of attempted cervical dislocation. The subcutaneous nodules are indicative of a mite infection. The foci on the ovary are indicative of developing follicles. Samples were submitted for culture which are pending. Testing for Avian Influenza was negative. Tissue samples were collected for histopathology, which are also pending.
LABORATORY FINDINGS
MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS RESULTS:
TEST REQUEST: Influenza A Virus Matrix PCR - Live Bird Market
NO. ANIMAL ID SAMPLE IAV MATRIX _______________________________________________________________________________________
Nina Tracheal Swab Not Detected _______________________________________________________________________________________ Zeinab Helal, Ph.D, Lead Technician Molecular Diagnostics, Technical Assistant Mastitis and Microbiology 8/31/2020
UPDATE: PCR results for avian samples are reported as "detected" (instead of positive) or "not detected" (instead of negative) and include the cycle threshold (Ct) value. The lower the Ct value, the more nucleic acid was detected.
PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS

HISTORY:
Owner received this chicken and her sister from Deb Ford on 6/4/2020. Deb stated that they were 1.5 years old. She said that this particular chicken had been separated from her flock for most of her life because she could never successfully integrate them. This chicken would always be picked on, and would surely be killed in her flock. Owner has kept her and her sister separated from the flock the whole time she's had this hen. She has always been a quieter chicken, never roamed much, doesn't like treats, almost depressed. On 8/10/2020, owner noticed hen acting more strangely, was head bobbing. Owner separated hen from her sister and began treatment for wryneck. Vet came by on 8/11/2020, said it was not wryneck, but gave her Bactrim and meloxicam. Chicken was treated with both medications as ordered. Head bob had stopped, but continues to decline. Needed to be fed, refused water, and appeared to lose eyesight. Feed and water mixed to try to get enough into her. Rx for coccidia with Corid. Flock developed coccidia, although stools were normal for this chicken. On 8/26/2020, owner noticed head bobbing was back and was refusing to eat or drink later in the afternoon. Neck was limp, eyes remained closed, pale comb and wattles, no respiratory distress noted. Cervical dislocation performed via broomstick method to end hen's suffering.
GROSS FINDINGS:
A 1.5 year old female, black and brown, 430 g Frizzle chicken was presented for postmortem examination. On physical examination, the keel was prominent and a palpable space between the C2 and C3 vertebrae. The chicken was in poor nutritional condition with scant adipose stores. Bilaterally, the conjunctiva was reddened and thickened. Bilaterally, the eye balls had focal, white areas beneath the cornea. There was hemorrhage around the musculature of the C2 and C3 vertebrae. There are pinpoint foci dispersed multifocally through the subcutis and the serosal surface of the crop. There was yellow, opaque fluid within the trachea that extended up into the nasal cavity. The lungs were discolored white to grey locally extensive dorsally with the left lung being the most severely afflicted. The heart had streaks of pallor in the epicardium. About 2ml of yellow, clear fluid was within the coelomic cavity. The liver was markedly enlarged with mottled appearance. The spleen was enlarged and congested.

Oh poor gal. I'm so sorry it must have been extremely difficult to deal with that. It'll be nice if you get a conclusive read <3