Rooster acts drunk and blind....

[boxermom&nowchicks]

Last night something tried to get into my chicken coop, but was unable to. Rooster came out of coop reluctantly this morning and seemed to stumble and act as if he was drunk and blind. not chasing the girls around and crowing like he usually does. I had to go to work and when I got home, he is the same. Now he is laying in the pen with his head dropped forward and beak in the dirt. If he startles, he opens his eyes and will weakly stand up. Could he have a concussion?? I'm thinking maybe he heard an intruder outside and tried to defend his girls and somehow hit his head.... Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[wildriverswolf90]

I had the same thing happen to my rooster a couple months ago. One night something tried to get in the coop the next day he was holding his head to side, stumbling and falling, he would lay for hours in the dirt. I tried everything, I gave him raw egg for extra protein, iron, vitamin b, electrolytes, and antibiotics, but sadly nothing worked, a couple days after the attack he passed away. I'm still unsure of what exactly happened to him, but my best guess is he injured his head and had brain swelling.

I hope your rooster is able to pull through

 

[boxermom&nowchicks]

Thanks for the reply. Same thing I was thinking, with the head injury. Hoping he will pull through, though. I'll give it my best.
Thank you.

 

[wildriverswolf90]

Try giving him extra protein and Iron. Put him in a crate or small area, where he can relax and recoup. Give him plenty of water and food.

 

[boxermom&nowchicks]

I did separate him and put him in a small puppy pen with a crate. He went in the crate himself to sleep last night and was drinking before he went to bed, so i had high hopes for him. He is still walking off balance, etc this morning. I did moisten some crumbles with electrolytes for breakfast, which he took a few bites of. I'm still hoping for tbe best.