PLEASE HELP my rooster is very lethargic wont stand won’t eat!!

[Sarakevinogden]

He’s been like this for three days and just seems to get worse everyday :-( I’ve tried cloves, scrambled eggs, yogurt and syringing water. He ate all that but that was 48 hours ago. Yesterday I created a mash of pellets and fed him that and he ate it up with my help but this morning he was terrible, his feathers keep puffing out, his poop is bright green and he can’t even keep his head up!! I just administered Corid and just hope it works! What should I do! ??

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Hi @Sarakevinogden and welcome
Sorry you are joining under such circumstances, the poor fellow doesn't look good.
Is there a possibility he has gotten into some spoiled food or mould - something toxic basically?
Have you had any sign of Marek's in your flock??

How old is he?
Could you post picture of his poop?
What does his crop feel like? Hard, squishy, spongy?
Is his crop emptying overnight?
It is not good that he has stopped eating...
I would try get him to drink first anyway, keep him hydrated.

I really hope some of the experts drop by to help out, in the meantime, keep him seperated, warm and try get those fluids in

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. So sorry that your rooster is very sick. How old is he, and have you added any new chickens to your flock in recent months or weeks? Is his neck weak and flaccid or is it stuck down? Can he move his legs at all, or his wings?

I would hold water up to his beak every 2 hours, and keep trying to get him to eat mushy chicken feed with water and chopped egg. Adding vitamins with electrolytes for poultry would be good.

Mareks disease does come to mind as a possibility. Other possible causes is weakness, injury, poisoning, mold in feed, botulism, or others. The best way to diagnose MD is after death with a necropsy performed by your state vet or a poultry lab. Here is a good link with contact info and some instructions on keeping the body refrigerated until it is shipped or taken in:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

Here is some reading about Mareks:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

Any possibility of impacted or sour crop? Have you checked his crop if it feels squishy or rock hard or if there is a bad smell coming from his mouth? One of my rooster's went very lethargic and had greenish yellow poop when he had sour crop. I gave him human antifungal medicine and he made a full recovery.

 

[Sarakevinogden]

Hi @Sarakevinogden and welcome
Sorry you are joining under such circumstances, the poor fellow doesn't look good.
Is there a possibility he has gotten into some spoiled food or mould - something toxic basically?
Have you had any sign of Marek's in your flock??

How old is he?
Could you post picture of his poop?
What does his crop feel like? Hard, squishy, spongy?
Is his crop emptying overnight?
It is not good that he has stopped eating...
I would try get him to drink first anyway, keep him hydrated.

I really hope some of the experts drop by to help out, in the meantime, keep him seperated, warm and try get those fluids in

 

[Sarakevinogden]

Thank you soo much for replying!!! I got him to eat a decent amount of treats and pellets, he’s just not moving now he is flopped over in the same spot his head feels a little warm. His crop feels normal he’s only 6 months old. The rest of my chickens are perfectly fine. It’s so weird! No mold or bad food at all this happened out of nowhere. He’s the seeetest rooster, I sure hope he gets through this!

 

[Sarakevinogden]

Any possibility of impacted or sour crop? Have you checked his crop if it feels squishy or rock hard or if there is a bad smell coming from his mouth? One of my rooster's went very lethargic and had greenish yellow poop when he had sour crop. I gave him human antifungal medicine and he made a full recovery.

 

[Sarakevinogden]

Oh THANK YOU SO MUCH, for replying!! I’m willing to do anything I’m so worried. What type of fungal medicine should I try? These are my first chickens how do I check his crop?

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you know how to check his crop in the right upper chest? It gradually fills during the day with food and water, and in the early morning before eating, it is a good time to check it when it should be empty and flat. You don’t need an antifugnal medicine unless you are treating sour crop.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a good link to read with pictures of chicken slings and chairs to get him upright, in front of food and water, and to keep him cleaner while he is not able to walk. Here are some examples:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

It