Rooster Acting Strange

[ChickenCrazy00]

We woke up this morning to find our red shouldered yokohama rooster acting odd. He was laying on the floor of the coop and some of the hens were trying to peck him. He is bright and alert, but doesn't want to move, and when he does, he walks funny. Sort of wobbly. Like Capt Jack Sparrow (LOL). He is not one for being picked up or handled, but he is tolerating it, which tells me he doesn't feel well. He did free range yesterday, with another rooster who has a history of attacking other roosters, even though he doesn't attack this one. They stay very close to the coop. Is it possible he could have eaten something that he shouldn't? It is cold outside, so we have brought him in to see if a little warmth will help him. He is resting in a dog kennel right now. Any ideas on what could be wrong with him?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your boy is having trouble.

You call him rooster, how old? Any recent additions to your flock?

First thing that comes to mind is Marek's. Other common causes would be vitamin A, B, or E deficiency. But knowing more symptoms could help. There are many illnesses that do include loss of balance.

Is he able to eat or drink since you brought him in? Hydration is more important than food. But scrambled eggs is always beneficial (loaded with nutrients) for an ill bird (IMO) and easy to digest plus often thought of as yummy by the birds.

What do you feed including treats and supplements? How long have you had him? How does his poo look? What has you weather been like? How many birds in how much space?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Forget to include a link to a symptom checker tool. It list ALL the possibilities according to the symptom you put in. And then you work to rule out things and narrow it down. Although it could be confusing with all the other possibilities that pop up, I find it VERY helpful...
http://www.poultrydvm.com/symptoms

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Sounds like Marek’s disease

 

[ChickenCrazy00]

Thank you all for responding!

He is not a recent addition. He will be a year old April 17th. We have had him since he was a chick. Up til now he has been completely healthy! He did eat a little, but I haven't seen him drink. I will feed him some scrambled eggs and ACV water to see if that will help him. I haven't see his manure. I was gone for a little while from home and just got back. He seems to be a little perkier, though!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thank you all for responding!

He is not a recent addition. He will be a year old April 17th. We have had him since he was a chick. Up til now he has been completely healthy! He did eat a little, but I haven't seen him drink. I will feed him some scrambled eggs and ACV water to see if that will help him. I haven't see his manure. I was gone for a little while from home and just got back. He seems to be a little perkier, though!

Marek's could be brought to your property by wild birds at any given time. It could even have been there already and not reared it's ugly head until someone's immunity was weakened by something else. On top of that my state poultry vet at UC Davis says "as far as they are concerned Marek's is in EVERY poultry environment".

Notice anything in his pupil shape or eye color? Any toes curling? He is not yet a rooster, as that term is saved for boys over one year old, just for informational purposes. Until then he is considered a cockerel.

Remember, in order for acv to work for its recommended purpose it must be "raw, unfiltered, with Mother". And be sure not to do too much or get your mix right, I don't know the standard mix rate. Drinking is most important. Dehydration is deadly. Sometimes not seeing it doesn't mean they aren't though...

Marek's isn't a death sentence per say. Some birds do recover. But it should be considered a possibility at this point and where I currently point my finger to.

Did you check him over for any injuries? If you hadn't found him when you did, it could have been a much uglier seen as many birds will take advantage in order to elevate their own place in the pecking order. And many times others will join in and it could even result in cannibalism. In this instance I do think separation was the right thing to do.

Supplementing vitamins MIGHT help if it's a vitamin deficiency. Either any (liquid) bird vitamin from the pet department, nutri drench, or Poly vi Sol baby vitamins with NO iron can be added. On top of that if it is vitamin deficit, selenium has been shown to be a huge help!

What is his NORMAL feed including treats and supplements?

He may have been under the weather longer than you realize. As prey animals they will hide anything as long as they possibly can in order to not become an easy target.

 

[Abriana]

I agree that it sounds like Mareks, keep him separated but chances are it has already spread to your flock. It is super contagious and can even be carried more miles through the wind. Be careful about caring for your rooster and then your other flock. Care for the healthy birds first, then the rooster. If he does survive he will be a carrier of the disease for the rest of his life. It may not be mareks, hopefully it is not. Good luck!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If he does survive he will be a carrier of the disease for the rest of his life.

Whether that boy survives or not... if it is Marek's the rest of the flock is considered exposed and therefor also carriers for life.

But did you know that Marek's is NOT part of NPIP testing?

Another thing, if he passes I would consider refrigerating his body and sending him in for necropsy. It is the only way to possibly know the the truth and I would want to know. In many states it is often free or affordable as a way of helping maintain biosecurity for our food supply chain. Here are a couple of link to help with that, should you need them...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

 

[ChickenCrazy00]

Once again, thank you all for your input and advice!

Last night I fed him some soft fruit and feed, as well as some scrambled eggs with a little bit of ACV mixed in it. (Bragg's raw, unfiltered, with the mother). He also drank a little bit of his water on his own. His wings are a little droopy, and he lays on the back of his legs. When he walks he is unbalanced, but he is still very alert and watchful. We did find some mites on him though, but only one or two, not enough to cause these symptoms. We are giving him treatment for them using a homemade garlic spray. His feces look normal.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We are giving him treatment for them using a homemade garlic spray. His feces look normal.

What kind of mites? There are different types... some are MICROSCOPIC and live on the birds but will never be seen, such as scaly leg mite or depluming mites. You can only see their evidence left behind. Other live in cracks of the wood and only come out to feed on the chickens at night so are also very unlikely to be seen during a daytime inspection. And I'm not sure, but the other ones that MIGHT (pun intended) be visible could be Northern Fowl Mites. I guess part of my point is that there could be a heavier load than you realize. But knowing the signs could help. You should probably treat your other birds too then??

I had a young bird present with lameness (not being able to walk right), who I separated because was being picked on. I gave it food and water plus treated for vitamin deficit. Bird was plenty perky (bright eyed and bushy tailed even) and feces was completely normal but still unable to walk 2 weeks later and knowing sitting in feces or me cleaning was no life quality for either of us... And by this time I think I started to see changes in the eye. My state vet said it was "likely" Marek's. I decided to cull. Then another bird started limping, with no sign of injury (2 or 3 weeks from the onset of the first). I culled by the next day deciding that also appeared to be Marek's. When I discussed it with my local vet he said I should have still done the test in order to rule out secondary infections.

Glad he drank some on his own!

Have you wormed ever? Only round worms can be seen in the droppings, even then only under heavy load. The others are microscopic eggs that pass in the droppings. If you can take a fecal sample in to the vet (any, doesn't have to be avian) for a float ($15-18 at mine), they can give you a species and load count in order to find out if you need to treat and make sure you get the right med to treat the right species. Heavy worm load could have heavy impact. All things will take advantage of a weakened immune system.

So it could be more than just 1 or even 2 things working against you..