Pale yellowing comb on rooster.

[jak2002003]

My rooster's comb has turned very pale pink today... a change from its bright red colour before. It's also started to get yellow areas in it.

His face used to be bright red, but this also have turned pale pink today. He seem otherwise healthy.

I am worried because 2 days ago my younger rooster died suddenly.. from being perfectly healthy and lively, to loosing all his energy and then died in less that 48 hours.

I am worried I have some disease outbreak. All the hens are very healthy and showing no signs of illness.. all with bright cherry red combs. The rooster that died also had a bright red comb.. even after he died, but he had green foamy poops that were very watery.. which is not what is happening with my surviving rooster.

Any help or advise very gratefully received. Thanks..

 

[azygous]

Two things you can do to diagnose what is making your rooster sick. One is to gather some random poop samples from the present rooster and the flock and send them to a lab for a fecal float test for parasites such as cocci.

The other, which is far more inclusive, is if and when this rooster dies, send his body to the lab for a necropsy.

Some avian viruses will cause tumors on organs, then death. If the tumors target the endocrine system, you will see the comb and wattles go pale as you describe.

But cocci can make chickens very sick, and sick chickens often have pale combs. I would start the flock on Corid or some brand of amprolium ASAP.

 

[jak2002003]

I have been out and got some anti coccidiosis medication and will start the flock off on it tomorrow.

I hope it's that simple. I am afraid its Marek's disease... as I have had birds die of that about one year ago. But those birds showed the leg stiffness and loss of balance... as well as just fading away.. as had just happened the rooster that died 2 days ago. I hope it not this disease attacking the internal organs of my living rooster.

I have been though so many diseases and heartaches with my chicken flock aver the years I think if I get another outbreak of Marek's disease I am going to give up the chicken keeping hobby.

Two things you can do to diagnose what is making your rooster sick. One is to gather some random poop samples from the present rooster and the flock and send them to a lab for a fecal float test for parasites such as cocci.

The other, which is far more inclusive, is if and when this rooster dies, send his body to the lab for a necropsy.

Some avian viruses will cause tumors on organs, then death. If the tumors target the endocrine system, you will see the comb and wattles go pale as you describe.

But cocci can make chickens very sick, and sick chickens often have pale combs. I would start the flock on Corid or some brand of amprolium ASAP.