polish rooster dying? UPDATE

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I noticed yesterday that my daughters Gold Laced Rooster Ozzie was alittle lethargic but he was still eating and drinking. He looks like he is molting so I figured that was the problem. He shows no other signs, no respiratory or conjestion. This morning he was alittle worse so we kept an eye on him. This afternoon it rained again (surprise surprise) After the rain stopped I went out to check on him and poor thing had just layed there in the run during the whole downpour. He looked like a drowned rat. I went in and he let me pick him up he was so weak that he didn't even put up a fight. I put in in the hospital coop and made him a mashof rice, egg and probotics. I also noticed he had a green dirreaha right before I picked him up I bundled him up in a towel and he is resting in the towel. (Too weak to even get out of it). Anybody got any idea what could be the problem. My daughter is really upset as he's her only gold laced rooster. He is only 13 months old, and in a separate pen with his ladies.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

anyone have any ideas...

 

[gocrow77]

I hope you get some answers! Best wishes for you and your roo.....

 

[sammi]

check his crop...very important..feel for any lump or grainy feeling
the green is most likely from not eating.
what all do you feed?

keep him warm..check for other symptoms..wheezing..

do you have any poultry vitamins or electrolytes?
for Vitamins, you can give Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, Enfamil brand if possible, no iron..give 3 drops on beak once a day for 5 days, then taper off for another week.
for electrolytes..you can give diluted Pediolyte, or in a pinch..diluted Gatorade.

make him up some of this mix..
this is for 1 day..divide into 3 feeds for the day and give for 5 days

1 cooked egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon honey or unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
3-4 tablespoons water cooked oatmeal
mix in enough layer feed to make puffy, not soupy.
also have regular feed available.

a little scrambled egg, or canned cat beef cat food...won't hurt if you don't have the supplies for the mix on hand..but do start him on it asap.

feed by hand if necessary..
give water by drops on beak..(or the Pediolyte ..or vits and e water)
he's probably dehydrated.

has he ever been wormed?
he could have cocci...
Corid/Amprol/ or liquid Sulmet 12.5%

since he got a chill..he might start showing signs of respiratory illness..

 

[MoodyChicken]

Gosh, he sounds far gone. I hate to be the negative one, but get ready to explain life and death to your child. When they're that bad it's hard to pull them back. And just as a warning, it's not uncommon for chickens to convulse during their final moments. I'm only saying this so it doesn't freak you or your daughter out.

Keep him warm and spend as little time as possible with him. He may be tame, but in his condition he probably can't tell friend from foe and he doesn't need any extra stress. Keep him in a warm, quiet room and offer any food that he will eat, and plenty of fresh water. Is his face pale? How is his weight and muscling? Are the droppings high in urates (the white part)? If so, are they slimy and off colored? Does he have bugs? Practice good supportive therapy until you can figure out what's ailing him. I have an article on my website about supportive therapy. www.moodychicken.googlepages.com it's under poultry health > supportive therapy. Good luck! I hope he makes it.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Thanks everyone I don't really hold out much hope for him unless he makes it through the night. Funny thing is I have checked on him alot the last few days as his pen is near my grow out pen and I have been keeping my eye on one of the little ones, He hasn't really shown any signs of illness. I just cleaned the pens so I know I have not seen any dirreaha until this evening. He is in one of my hospital pens and should be warm as it is in the 70's here. My daughter is not little lol she is in her thirties. And she can handle things like this way better than me. I am the one who can't handle death. lol. I will make up some special mash in the morning and see if he will eat something . Micki

 

[MoodyChicken]

Quote:
Woops, my bad!

If he survives the night, that's awesome. Please let us know if any new symptoms show.

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Ozzie was gone when we got up this morning. He was still wrapped in the towel I put him in. I PMd Glenda Heywood and she PM'd me back she thought it was E-coli I had given him some probiotics which is one of the things she suggested but he needed anitbotics and I didn't have any neomysin on hand I gave him some duramysin but I guess it was too late. Have been watching everyone else and so far noone is showing any signs. How in the world do chickens get ecoli I thought they caused it.

 

[MoodyChicken]

It could be a lot of different things. Take him to your cooperative extension office, most will post the bird for free and mail you their findings. Then you'll know for sure what killed him.