Please Help - I'm about to give up

[TammyR70]

Hi All,
I have a 9 month old Rooster that has a yucky vent and is straining to poop. I have wormed him 2 times with Safe Guard. I originally thought he had Vent Gleet, but now I'm not so sure. I have tried all the following over the past month - I soaked him in Epson Salt water 2 times. I have tried giving Apple Cider Vinegar and yogurt and Probiotics. I have sprayed an antifungal on it as well. I have applied antibiotic ointment on it. I tried a Monistat cream as well. I have squirted some enema saline in there. I have also tried squirting mineral oil in there a couple times as well. I cleaned it with Witch Hazel several times as well. I am posting a picture to see if anyone has seen this before. I am about to give up and take him to the State Diagnostic Lab. I have talked to 2 vets and one had suggested the Mineral Oil. The other thought it could be that he has intestinal tumors. Thank you for any help you an offer. He is such a sweet Rooster I really want to save him but can't afford high vet bills at this time.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What state are you in? Before experimenting any more, I'd have a fecal sample read either at an avian vet or you could send it to your poultry lab.

That should determine if it is bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic.
If I had to guess, my first thought would be bacterial but the fecal will tell and determine what the corrective course of action should be.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your boy is having trouble.

I wouldn't worm him again without verification of need by a fecal sample. Is he still mating? Possibly over mating?

It's been going on for a while, so he is obviously eating and drinking. What do you feed, including treats and supplements? How many other birds in how much space?

How long did you stick with any treatments? Nothing will work correctly if it isn't used for the right length of time. It does sound very frustrating.

 

[TammyR70]

What state are you in? Before experimenting any more, I'd have a fecal sample read either at an avian vet or you could send it to your poultry lab.

That should determine if it is bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic.
If I had to guess, my first thought would be bacterial but the fecal will tell and determine what the corrective course of action should be.

Hi. Thank you for your reply. I'm in Arkansas. I will call around today & see if there is a poultry lab or vet that would check is stool.

 

[TammyR70]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your boy is having trouble.

I wouldn't worm him again without verification of need by a fecal sample. Is he still mating? Possibly over mating?

It's been going on for a while, so he is obviously eating and drinking. What do you feed, including treats and supplements? How many other birds in how much space?

How long did you stick with any treatments? Nothing will work correctly if it isn't used for the right length of time. It does sound very frustrating.

Hi. No I'm not going to worm again. I just was following direction that said worm again in 10 days. Our chicken run is about 50x15. I have 23 birds (1 is still a baby but think is a rooster & then I have a pearl white Leghorn Rooster who is about 5 or 6. The rest are hens. This one who is sick is a much bigger Rooster not sure if breed. I'll post a pick. He was mating a lot but I've had him separated the past month. His bottom is bright red. He eats & drinks fine & acts fine otherwise. I feed the roosters the same as the hens. Laying pellets, whole corn, oats, fruit & veggies, bread sometimes & yogurt sometimes. I treated for vent fleet for a couple weeks since I thought it was that since one of the hens had it. I will call around & see where can bring stool stample.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It may have no baring... but I would give him a little protein (meal worms, red wigglers, scrambled eggs, cooked chicken) and lay off the corn and stuff. The formulated ration, even though largely corn has added vitamins, minerals, and amino acids which make it a whole feed. Diminishing that can have serious implications, though I'm not suggesting that is your problem. I personally won't feed boys LAYER because it has too much calcium for birds not laying eggs and *can* (doesn't mean will) cause kidney issues when fed long term. Because I always have boys and younger non laying birds, plus broody's or molting ladies... I feed a flock raiser with oyster shell on the side for the ladies who need it. It has more protein to help grow in feathers and works well for all ages.

The acv is simply about getting probiotics into the bird...

Have you actually checked or treated for lice, mites, or other external parasites? Angry red skin and lack of feathers could be an indicator.

I did have one girl with an angry bum like that which I never resolved before she passed from an overheating accident. And tried everything like you (it wasn't external parasites either).

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hi. Thank you for your reply. I'm in Arkansas. I will call around today & see if there is a poultry lab or vet that would check is stool.

Here's your lab.

Arkansas Livestock & Poultry Commission Laboratory

#1 Natural Resources Drive

Little Rock, Arkansas 72205‐1539

Phone: 501‐907‐2430

IAV‐A, CSF, ND, FMD, PRV, IAV‐S

Since you're in one of the poultry capitals of the states, there may be some vets with poultry experience - especially in the northwest of the state.
ETA
Now that I think about it, most of those vets are employed by the industry.

 

[TammyR70]

Thank you.

 

[TammyR70]

Just a little update. I contacted our poultry lab yesterday and was able to bring a fecal sample by. They only charged $12. Yay! That's half what the vet I called wanted. I am anxiously awaiting the results. Thanks again for the help. Also, I have been giving my rooster a little cooked eggs and mealworms just about every day. I forgot to post that when you originally asked what I was feeding him.

 

[azygous]

Call the lab and double check that they are doing a bacterial gram stain on the poop. From the looks of the pic, he may have a raging bacterial infection warranting a round of an antibiotic, depending on gram positive or gram negative bacteria being present. The proper choice of antibiotic depends on the category of bacteria cell walls.

This will help you nail down what exactly is going on and how to deal with it. Glad you found the lab! Thanks @ChickenCanoe !