Rooster can't walk! Has no balance. Please help!

[The Happster]

Also if it was worms, could I treat it naturally? I heard apple cider vinegar was good for worms.

 

[LaFleche]

Adding apple cider vinegar will prevent bacterial growth in the waterer but will not cure an existing worm infestation.

I suggest you deworm with Flubendazol 5% / Flubenol 5% for 7 consecutive days.

 

[The Happster]

Ok thanks. There isn't anywhere I can get that though... I was wondering if I could use dog dewormer? We don't have anything else.

 

[LaFleche]

https://www.farmacy.co.uk/products/264-flubenol-5-oral-powder-600g
You should be able to get it from your local vet. It can be used for cats, dogs, fish, pigs... etc.

Using Flubenol 5% you can still eat the eggs, with other dewormers (what is the dog dewormers active ingredient?) that might not be the case.

 

[Eggcessive]

I doubt if worms is the problem, but it won’t hurt to use a wormer, such as SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or the horse paste 0.25 ml per pound (2 ml for an 8 pound rooster) given once and again in 10-14 days. Valbazen is another good wormer in the US, but dosage is 1/2 to 3/4 ml for a rooster, then repeat in 10-14 days.

I have a 7 year old hen who suffered from imbalance and could not walk straight without falling to her side or backwards. She never lost leg strength, and could stand enough to change her position in her basket. I fed her watery chick feed, tuna, cat food, and a little egg plus vitamins for 5 weeks, until she was able to start walking around again. A year later, she still wobbles and sometimes stumbles, but she free ranges over an acre each day. So there may be a chance that your rooster can live a fairly normal life.

 

[The Happster]

Thank you. I'm not sure if our vets will be open with the virus and all, but I'll try and persuade my dad to go down with me and see later. I'm not worried about not being able to eat the eggs ( particularly as he doesn't lay ). If it can be used for dogs and cats as well it might be good to have it in the house. Thanks for the suggestion

 

[The Happster]

Thanks Eggcessive.
Its the fact he isn't in pain which gives me a bit of hope. I just had to take him away from by the other pen where he was attempting to fight the other rooster through the wire. And when he sees a hen he takes off running, and doesn't seem to have any problem. Sometimes I think he's just putting it on
But he's a love and he just loves his cuddles.

 

[LaFleche]

I'm not worried about not being able to eat the eggs ( particularly as he doesn't lay )

Yes, but if you decide to deworm its best to deworm all your chickens in one go.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can find SafeGuard at Tractor Supply and your nearest feed stores. Valbazen is sold in Rural King, Southern States, and online. The SafeGuard Horse Paste is the least expensive, at about $12, but the Liquid Goat Wormer is a better value at $22-30.

 

[Trish1974]

SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or the horse paste 0.25 ml per pound

@Eggcessive , is it 0.25 ml per pound for both the liquid and paste? Also, can the Safeguard Liquid goat dewormer be used in their drinking water?