Rooster choked? Now cannot stand.

[rascal66]

This morning as I was feeding the flock and walked away, I noticed thrashing in the run. I quickly ran and saw that one of my beloved project roos was on the ground, thrashing and gasping. (I thought he was in the process of dying at that moment, this has happened before several years ago and that rooster died immediately). So I grabbed him and tried to massage the neck, pat the head to get him to spit up whatever he had in his mouth/neck. He began breathing!

So right now, he caught his breath. I was very worried since the very beginning, he couldnt lift his head and wouldn't open his eyes. Now he is calm and alert again.. but he cannot stand up.

This is very fresh, happened within the past hour. I injected him now with some B Vitamins / Thaimin Riboflavin etc. Will he be okay? Or is there a good chance the lack of oxygen has damaged a part of his brain/nervous system?

I'm really torn, as he's one of my project roos...

 

[sourland]

Hopefully all is temporary, and he is still dealing with shock. The next several hours should indicate whether or not their is permanent damage.

 

[rascal66]

Hopefully all is temporary, and he is still dealing with shock. The next several hours should indicate whether or not their is permanent damage.

Thanks so much. I'm keeping a close eye on him, I hope he will be alright. I suppose by the later evening, if he still cannot stand, I may have the slaughter him.

 

[sourland]

Keep him quiet and confined. As long as he is not in evident pain, I would give him time to recover.

 

[rascal66]

Keep him quiet and confined. As long as he is not in evident pain, I would give him time to recover.

Do you think it's worth while to try to offer him fluids? Electrolytes/vitamins?

 

[sourland]

I'd wait rather than risk the possibility he might aspirate them. If he chooses to drink on his own, that's another story.

 

[rascal66]

I'd wait rather than risk the possibility he might aspirate them. If he chooses to drink on his own, that's another story.

Sounds right. I'll see if he wants to drink a little later. I appreciate the responses!

 

[rascal66]

He's really not doing any better. Laying on his side, losing energy, very floppy and unwilling to hold his head up for too long. Got pressured to butcher him now so I'm afraid he's going to get put down.

 

[sourland]

If he hasn't shown improvement, that's probably the right thing to do.

 

[rascal66]

If he hasn't shown improvement, that's probably the right thing to do.

I appreciate you taking the time again! I really was too hopeful that he would pull through. In all honesty, I'm not even sure if he truly choked. He may had gotten knocked in the head, or maybe there was something else. I just had fed them and walked away that very moment.. so I assumed he choked. I do have other roosters, so I'm curious if maybe one hit him hard enough to cause damage.