I have been going through the posts here this morning looking for help with a problem I am having with two young roosters. One, 14 week old partridge rock, was purchased from TS and the other, 15 week old maran-americauna mix, was one hatched in an incubator here. There are 22 birds in this group. 12 from TS and 10 incubated hatch.
A few weeks [?] back, there was a question of whether or not one of the birds in this group may have had coccidiosis. I switched them to medicated food and waited for my mail ordered corid. I have not given them the corid, as now it appears that this may not be the problem at all. I have also taken them off of the medicated feed as well.
These two roosters are having problems with their legs/walking. They almost appear to be drunk when they first start to walk, almost stumbling, wide gait, the partridge curling left foot backwards sometimes when he first starts out, and the need for both of them to stop and rest frequently [stop, drop and rest]. The mix has been doing this for weeks now and this is what gave me the idea it might be the cocci. [that and the fresh blood I saw in the poop]. The past 3 days they have been let out to range for the first time and being able to see them outside has really made me sit up and take notice.
The partridge is sometimes gasping or at least seems to be [while he is lying basking in the sun], yet when I walk up to check on him, he stops and gets up and walks away. Other than this and the walking, he eats, drinks, and appears happy. In fact he has a female who very rarely leaves his side. The maran mix is bright eyed and happy, eats well and is aware of his surroundings and what is going on around him.
I guess the biggest questions are how and when do you TRY to make a diagnosis? The birds are not showing signs of sickness other than what is mentioned above. Do I leave it alone? Do I give vitamins? If so what kind? How much? How often? How do I give them, in their water, with a dropper? I have looked for a Vet locally who handles fowl and there is no such animal here. I have talked to other chicken raisers in my area about these symptoms and questions and all I have gotten is a shrug and 'cull the flock'. Ummm, not today....If I had deaths or more definative symptoms that would show that there really is something bad going on, then yes, I would, I would have to, whether I liked it or not.
A few weeks [?] back, there was a question of whether or not one of the birds in this group may have had coccidiosis. I switched them to medicated food and waited for my mail ordered corid. I have not given them the corid, as now it appears that this may not be the problem at all. I have also taken them off of the medicated feed as well.
These two roosters are having problems with their legs/walking. They almost appear to be drunk when they first start to walk, almost stumbling, wide gait, the partridge curling left foot backwards sometimes when he first starts out, and the need for both of them to stop and rest frequently [stop, drop and rest]. The mix has been doing this for weeks now and this is what gave me the idea it might be the cocci. [that and the fresh blood I saw in the poop]. The past 3 days they have been let out to range for the first time and being able to see them outside has really made me sit up and take notice.
The partridge is sometimes gasping or at least seems to be [while he is lying basking in the sun], yet when I walk up to check on him, he stops and gets up and walks away. Other than this and the walking, he eats, drinks, and appears happy. In fact he has a female who very rarely leaves his side. The maran mix is bright eyed and happy, eats well and is aware of his surroundings and what is going on around him.
I guess the biggest questions are how and when do you TRY to make a diagnosis? The birds are not showing signs of sickness other than what is mentioned above. Do I leave it alone? Do I give vitamins? If so what kind? How much? How often? How do I give them, in their water, with a dropper? I have looked for a Vet locally who handles fowl and there is no such animal here. I have talked to other chicken raisers in my area about these symptoms and questions and all I have gotten is a shrug and 'cull the flock'. Ummm, not today....If I had deaths or more definative symptoms that would show that there really is something bad going on, then yes, I would, I would have to, whether I liked it or not.
