Rescue Rooster needs help!

[HuntrixHelp]

I have searched all over and am kind of getting desperate. I'm bouncing all over the place between vitamin deficiency, Newcastle, and Mareks. He is about 6mos - 1 year old

I rescued a roo last Monday from a pretty large, healthy looking flock. They were being kept in very close quarters because of the time the rescue had to get them out of the home. They were all kind of bumbling around & leaning on each other. There was extra space, but they were all sticking very close together . Pushing each other around.

He had some discharge and trouble breathing (uri) when I brought him home.

I was given blue pills for him. A broad spectrum antibiotic. It was a blue round with UVL on it. Magic. Cleared the discharge almost immediately. Maybe it's not mareks? I should mention too, we took a hen as well and she has had zero symptoms. She's now quarantining separately from him.

Squinting, puffed up on the neck, and rocking.... Kind of up and down rocking? Bobbing? Poor guy is in a bad way right now.

He is now in the bathroom. He is having trouble standing. Seems very weak. Toes are flexible, not stiff. We left him today for a grocery store trip and when we came back he couldn't get up. Just stuck on his poor little side. He was underweight (still is) when we brought him. He is eating and drinking excessively

Supplementing B and Selenium on top of so many good foods and treats. Eggs, chia, flax, nutritional yeast, etc.

He'll seem fine and then really not fine at all.


I really love this guy and would like to rehab him. I've been a chicken owner and lover for 10 years. I have seen sickness and wounds heal that I thought would never heal, heal, but there's something about this guy that is screaming huge problem. We don't have a poultry vet in our area. Any advice is welcome. I uploaded a couple videos to my Dropbox in case that would be helpful.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/1cow...ey=kh654256e4hywuuvasl2nj4qo&st=dmpybpzk&dl=0

 

[HuntrixHelp]

Jinu getting a warm mite soak

 

[Debbie292d]

Given where you got them from, I'd guess they haven't been getting their nutritional feed. Since you have a rooster and a hen, I'd get some all-flock for higher protein, less calcium for him. Then get her some oyster shell in a separate dish.

Assuming the antibiotic you gave him cleared up any infections, I'd wonder about deworming him, or them both.

 

[Anon112]

I know you said he's in the bathroom: does he have a good source of warmth? Given he's underweight and possibly still fighting off some bug.

Poor thing. I'm so glad he has someone fighting for him.

 

[HuntrixHelp]

Given where you got them from, I'd guess they haven't been getting their nutritional feed. Since you have a rooster and a hen, I'd get some all-flock for higher protein, less calcium for him. Then get her some oyster shell in a separate dish.

Assuming the antibiotic you gave him cleared up any infections, I'd wonder about deworming him, or them both.

Thank you. I did a mite soak (elector psp) and was told to hold by the rescue to hold off on the deworm. I thought it was weird, considering it's one of the 1st things I do when bringing in new members. She suggested waiting because he was visibly showing the URI and said it could stress his body out more. It's hard, because I want to do the right thing for him. I think I'm going to begin a deworm in the morning. It couldn't hurt at this point.

I should have also mentioned, I started him on the all flock on Friday. Do you think a vitamin deficiency would look this bad after a week of supplementing and him eating nonstop? Like, good and then bad, I mean? Because sometimes he seems much much weaker than others

 

[HuntrixHelp]

I know you said he's in the bathroom: does he have a good source of warmth? Given he's underweight and possibly still fighting off some bug.

Poor thing. I'm so glad he has someone fighting for him.

Yes, I have a little radiator heater in there for him. I'm trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. We're definitely going to fight for him until he doesn't need us to!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, what is URI?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, what is URI?

Ah upper respiratory infection, got it.

 

[FunClucks]

Human B vitamin complex (B50 or B100 pill - pop it in their beak and they'll swallow) is the treatment for curled toe paralysis, basically the only thing you listed you might could do something about. In bad cases it can take 1-3 months of daily pills to make a difference in the chicken's symptoms. This boy sounds bad. He may have multiple things going on. I'd also be giving him some Nutridrench (molasses water and vitamins) to help stimulate his appetite and the vitamins can't hurt.

I would worm as soon as possible, see if you can get a dog/cat vet to do a fecal float and identify worms or other things they might have. Giardia? Coccidiosis? There's stuff other than worms that can lay them low. I'd treat for all of it if you can't get a fecal float, but knowing what you're treating is best of course.

Note: if you treat for coccidiosis, stop all B vitamins - it prevents the CORID from working properly to kill the coccidiosis. You can give B vitamins again once the course of CORID is over.

There is a member on here, now a couple members, who have successfully treated Merek's with Chinese skullcap mushrooms (I think that's the name of the mushroom). My understanding is that from their observations it doesn't heal it, but puts the Merek's disease in remission (symptom free) as long as the bird takes a therapeutic dose. You'll need to keep a closed flock from then on - no birds ever go out, and you may need to treat everyone once they've all been exposed. Not a vet approved treatment in the US, but there is some literature out there about it. Something to look into.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm bouncing all over the place between vitamin deficiency, Newcastle, and Mareks. He is about 6mos - 1 year old

He had some discharge and trouble breathing (uri)

I was given blue pills for him. A broad spectrum antibiotic. It was a blue round with UVL on it. Magic.

Cleared the discharge almost immediately. Maybe it's not mareks?

Squinting, puffed up on the neck, and rocking

He is eating and drinking excessively

Supplementing B and Selenium

Jinu getting a warm mite soak

She suggested waiting because he was visibly showing the URI

Welcome To BYC
Does he have Mites? If so, then if there's a heavy infestation, this can cause a lot of weakness and anemia.

You're supplementing B and Selenium. How much Selenium? Generally giving some egg in addition to a nutritionally balanced feed is sufficient when it comes to Selenium. Too much especially given as a supplement/pill can be toxic.

Work on hydration and him eating his normal feed. Since he's eating/drinking excessively, offer wet feed and give him a little at a time, it sounds like he's not been eating regularly. Check his crop to make sure it's emptying.