Old age or something else?

[chickens really]

For info, we don't seem to get Fowl Pox here in the UK as far as I am aware..... although it will no doubt happen with global warming.

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[rebrascora]

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Cancel that I was wrong and have amended my post

Edited to add.... I should have done more research before I hit the keyboard!

 

[chickens really]

Edited/erased due to inaccurate info. @chickens really Turns out we do get it here, maybe just not this far north.

Yes...It can be transmitted by wild birds and Mosquitoes.

 

[rebrascora]

Yes I knew that it was vectored by mosquitoes but we only have midges.

 

[BrindleFinch]

Yes I knew that it was vectored by mosquitoes but we only have midges.

No mosquitoes in the UK?!

Honey, pack the tea we're moving to Britain!

 

[chickens really]

Yes I knew that it was vectored by mosquitoes but we only have midges.

......

 

[Chickassan]

Maybe feed him some meat, cooked of course or canned fish just something protein and iron rich to see if that helps with his wobbles. Fella may just need more gas in his tank due to the molt and the mites.

 

[SpringbankFamilyFarm]

Poor guy, he is defiantly molting, but I would check him over very well for any wounds. He's been bloodied by something, possibly fighting with the others. I do agree he has Scaly leg mites.

Stress from molt and attack, he is weak. He may also have an underlying condition that is also presenting itself, you never know.
I would put him on a higher protein feed like chick starter or an all flock. Get some poultry vitamins into him and see that he is hydrated. He may do better if separated out for a few days so he can rest and have his own food/water.

You treated for mites - what did you use?

For the Scaly Leg mites, give his legs a good coating of oil (use something like vaseline, castor oil, coconut oil, etc.) that will smother these microscopic mites.


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There are no signs of any other wounds other than his comb - i will separate him so there is no chance of any of the ladies pecking him or my other cockerel getting near him if the wind picks up.
I shall get some petroleum jelly on his legs now.
Have changed his feed to growers and added vitamin supplements to his water this morning after reading the previous comments.
I used Nettex products, cleaned the houses, sprayed, left for 10mins and then wiped with a damp cloth, left to air for 4hours then applied mite powder to the nooks and crannys before putting bedding back in and then used the mite powder on the chickens before they entered the house. Is this right/ok?
He wont eat the jelly on his legs will he?
Thank you all so much for your help!

 

[rebrascora]

The tiny bit that he could potentially ingest from his legs is unlikely to cause him a problem. Sounds like you have been pretty thorough with the ,ice/mite treatment. You usually need to follow up with a second treatment in a week to 10 days. If you have a major mite infestation then it can take several treatments to get on top of it, but it doesn't sound like you have a bad problem and now that we are heading into winter, they tend not to breed so quickly.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sounds like you did just fine

He probably won't eat the jelly, just rub it into the legs, try to get it under the scales, that's what smothers the SLM. If he tasted it, it won't hurt him, he probably won't do that again anyway.

I hope he get better soon, please keep us posted.