Rooster comb turning purple/blue??? HELP

[KooKoe]

My rooster has been under the weather for a few dayys. quite hoarse sounding and now the tips of his comb are turning purple. he has no other symptoms. what could this be?

 

[Miss Lydia]

most say on here it's lack of oxygen when the comb turns blue or purple What all have you been doing for him? Maybe try some electrolytes or poultry drench in his water.

 

[KooKoe]

I battled terribly to get medication for him, but in the end I found Terramycin. He has been on Terramycin since monday and seems to be doing alot better. But his comb was fine the whole day today and then about an hour ago, started turning blue on the tips. I also dusted for feather mites on Monday evening...

 

[chicknmania]

Roosters can get some sort of virus that causes them to lose their voice, we have had that happen a few times over the past years. They can get quite ill so you really need to start them on antibiotics, Tylan or at the very least Duramycin, 4 teaspoons per gallon, for ten days to two weeks. Isolate him so you can treat him, though if it's what ours have had, it doesn't seem to be very contagious, I have never seen it spread to the others, we've only had isolated cases. It is important to start aggressive treatment right away though b/c once they start showing symptoms like that, they're already pretty ill. Give him whatever he likes to eat; keeping them eating is important; ours like cottage cheese, apple sauce, scrambled or chopped hard boiled eggs, cooked oatmeal, when they are sick. As in any time one is sick, start the others on vitamins and disinfect everything you can with Oxine or bleach, and watch the rest of the flock for symptoms.

 

[chicknmania]

Quote:
If you're using the Terramycin, and it has been working, try using 4 teaspoons per gallon of water...don't follow the package instructions re the dose. Terramycin is a weak antibiotic. Duramycin is a little better, if you can find that.

 

[saladin]

Generally, a purple comb (if it is not frost bite) is the sign of a bad heart which is also generally genetic.

I cull anything that gets a purple comb as I don't want those genetics to be passed forward into future generations: no matter how good the cock is otherwise.

 

[KooKoe]

It's a few hours later and his comb is bright red again..... Wondering what's up. will check again tomorrow morning.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have no idea, but lets hope it stays that way,

 

[KooKoe]

UPDATE: the Terramycin seems to be working. He still sounds a bit funny (like an old man rather than a young man), but his comb is better. I upped the dose of the Terramycin.

All is well again in our little corner of the city. Rooster is looking up, a new batch of chicks have hatched today and it's business as usual. BEGGING my hubby for a new coop and it looks like I might just get it too.....

 

[chicknmania]

That's good, keep up the increased dose of Terramycin for about ten days to two weeks.