Rooster Dying????

[TJAnonymous]

I just went out to give my roo some antibiotics and he's huddled in the corner. His head is nearly turned completely around... So so weird. I don't think he's going to make it through the day, to be honest.

 

[TJAnonymous]

After further reading, I'm guessing this is polyneuritis (wry neck). It's so weird though because he has access to a wide variety of food every day:

Nutrena layer pellets - 22%
Steam-rolled oats
Premium scratch (corn, millet, sunflower seeds, flax, wheat, soybeans)
BOSS
Free range pasture and barn area
Compost area

I also frequently throw out veggie and fruit scraps. So there is never a lack of food or variety. Not sure why he would stop eating...

But I'm treating this with 2 things -

1. 1cc injection of High Level Vitamin B complex

2. Doxycycline antibiotic

I figured the Vitamin B can help with any potential deficiency and the antibiotics can treat any internal infection that might have contributed to make him stop eating.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Not that anyone is following this thread, but here's the latest...

My roo is still alive. He does seem a little bit improved but his neck muscles are still paralyzed.

I finished 5 full days of doxycycline.

I gave him about 1 cc of Vitamin B Complex every day for 5 days, as well.

I also gave him Vitamin E/Selenium. Not sure how much he actually got because the plunger squirted a huge amount which went everywhere. I was worried about him getting too much & toxicity so I cleaned most of it off him but some did go in his mouth.

For at least 3 days, I fed him 2x day with an eye dropper. I mixed some layer pellets into a slurry, along with some water, electrolytes, probiotics, and Vitamin B. He was given several cc of that...via eye dropper.

I also put food and water in his cage. He does seem to be eating and drinking on his own. He is also standing again on his own.

However he cannot stand fully upright with his head up..

I've also found a pea sized hard lump around his left ear, right behind his eye. Whatever this lump is.... I feel like that's the culprit behind this sudden neurological problem. Maybe cancer? I don't know....

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Not that anyone is following this thread, but here's the latest...

My roo is still alive. He does seem a little bit improved but his neck muscles are still paralyzed.

I finished 5 full days of doxycycline.

I gave him about 1 cc of Vitamin B Complex every day for 5 days, as well.

I also gave him Vitamin E/Selenium. Not sure how much he actually got because the plunger squirted a huge amount which went everywhere. I was worried about him getting too much & toxicity so I cleaned most of it off him but some did go in his mouth.

For at least 3 days, I fed him 2x day with an eye dropper. I mixed some layer pellets into a slurry, along with some water, electrolytes, probiotics, and Vitamin B. He was given several cc of that...via eye dropper.

I also put food and water in his cage. He does seem to be eating and drinking on his own. He is also standing again on his own.

However he cannot stand fully upright with his head up..

I've also found a pea sized hard lump around his left ear, right behind his eye. Whatever this lump is.... I feel like that's the culprit behind this sudden neurological problem. Maybe cancer? I don't know....

I'm sorry he's not improving.

You can give the B-Complex and Vitamin E for weeks if you need to.
B vitamins are water soluble and any excess would be excreted in the urine. While Vitamin E will slowly, over time build up, but some do give it for Wry Neck for a couple of months with seemingly no issues. A little egg is sufficient for Selenium. Too much selenium can be toxic, so going with egg or tuna is a better choice than trying to give just a very tiny guess of Selenium tablet.

You found a lump around the left ear. Is this something you can get a photo of? Have you looked inside the ear to see if there's any pus?

You may be on to something though, the lump could be causing some vertigo or perhaps ....????

 

[TJAnonymous]

I'm sorry he's not improving.

You can give the B-Complex and Vitamin E for weeks if you need to.
B vitamins are water soluble and any excess would be excreted in the urine. While Vitamin E will slowly, over time build up, but some do give it for Wry Neck for a couple of months with seemingly no issues. A little egg is sufficient for Selenium. Too much selenium can be toxic, so going with egg or tuna is a better choice than trying to give just a very tiny guess of Selenium tablet.

You found a lump around the left ear. Is this something you can get a photo of? Have you looked inside the ear to see if there's any pus?

You may be on to something though, the lump could be causing some vertigo or perhaps ....????

@Wyorp Rock - thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it...

I've stopped feeding him with the eye dropper since he seems interested in eating on his own. However, I am adding electrolytes and Vitamin B Complex to his water.

His feed is a mix of 16% layer pellets, steam rolled oats, and a little bit of premium scratch (corn, millet, flax, oats, wheat, soybeans). Upon your suggestion, I've added some scrambled eggs as a top dressing.

I'll have to pick up some Vitamin E somewhere... The only thing I have currently is a Vitamin E/Selenium paste that I give my goats. I'm worried about the toxicity of giving him too much of it. I'd rather pick up something that is safer. I do have tuna I could give him too...

Below are pictures from this evening of my poor guy. His neck is badly twisted/paralyzed. He is able to pull it up a little bit to eat and drink but he generally just lays forward with his head down. That's why I put the towel in there... To prop him up a little bit so he's not effectively upside down.

I also tried to get a picture of the ear. It's a hardened black and yellow (dried pus?) lump.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Wyorp Rock - thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it...

I've stopped feeding him with the eye dropper since he seems interested in eating on his own. However, I am adding electrolytes and Vitamin B Complex to his water.

His feed is a mix of 16% layer pellets, steam rolled oats, and a little bit of premium scratch (corn, millet, flax, oats, wheat, soybeans). Upon your suggestion, I've added some scrambled eggs as a top dressing.

I'll have to pick up some Vitamin E somewhere... The only thing I have currently is a Vitamin E/Selenium paste that I give my goats. I'm worried about the toxicity of giving him too much of it. I'd rather pick up something that is safer. I do have tuna I could give him too...

Below are pictures from this evening of my poor guy. His neck is badly twisted/paralyzed. He is able to pull it up a little bit to eat and drink but he generally just lays forward with his head down. That's why I put the towel in there... To prop him up a little bit so he's not effectively upside down.

I also tried to get a picture of the ear. It's a hardened black and yellow (dried pus?) lump.


View attachment 4227375View attachment 4227376View attachment 4227377View attachment 4227378

Poor Guy!

Oh yes, I do agree with you. It looks like he has infection. Is this inside the ear or the earlobe?
I suppose it doesn't matter.

For this apply 1 (one) drop Peroxide, let that work in just a bit, then start to remove material. Apply only 1 drop of Peroxide at a time, letting it bubble and help loosen the material. You may need to work on this in stages over the course of a few days, a lot depends on how agreeable he is. It may exhaust him.
Once you get that cleaned out, try to get more photos if possible. Do put triple antibiotic ointment in the ear once cleaned out.

Now, the question would be is this ear infection (Bacterial) or Ear Canker or ???
Do you have any Baytril on hand? If you do that would be good to start. If you don't and have another antibiotic, let me know what you have.



Hopefully this is the main cause of the Wry Neck, it certainly could be a contributor.

You can find Vitamin E at Walmart, CVS, etc.
Giving the E and B-Complex is better than the goat paste. I know that a lot of folks have goats, sheep and chickens other livestock, so it would be nice to have something to cover them all without having to buy multiple products. Unfortunately, with the paste, it's not.

Keeping him hydrated and eating is good.

I wrote a spiel at the end of the linked post, it goes over the paste information if you are interested.

Post in thread 'I have a crocked neck 6mo old Lavender Roo'

Sep 16, 2023

His neck seems longer that most and it is lik a question mark. At first I thought his left shoulder was dislocated cause it was pronounce over the right. I picked hii up and he does not seem distressed or injured. He was yesterday. he stands at an angle to eat from the feeder. Any body have any idea about this? I have never seen this before and unsure if there is something I need to do or if it is harmfull. He just started mating attempts no crow yet. so Pretty. thanks for your feedback

Can you post photos of him?

It's possible he may be suffering from injury or it may be Wry...

• Wyorp Rock

 

[TJAnonymous]

Poor Guy!

Oh yes, I do agree with you. It looks like he has infection. Is this inside the ear or the earlobe?
I suppose it doesn't matter.

For this apply 1 (one) drop Peroxide, let that work in just a bit, then start to remove material. Apply only 1 drop of Peroxide at a time, letting it bubble and help loosen the material. You may need to work on this in stages over the course of a few days, a lot depends on how agreeable he is. It may exhaust him.
Once you get that cleaned out, try to get more photos if possible. Do put triple antibiotic ointment in the ear once cleaned out.

Now, the question would be is this ear infection (Bacterial) or Ear Canker or ???
Do you have any Baytril on hand? If you do that would be good to start. If you don't and have another antibiotic, let me know what you have.



Hopefully this is the main cause of the Wry Neck, it certainly could be a contributor.

You can find Vitamin E at Walmart, CVS, etc.
Giving the E and B-Complex is better than the goat paste. I know that a lot of folks have goats, sheep and chickens other livestock, so it would be nice to have something to cover them all without having to buy multiple products. Unfortunately, with the paste, it's not.

Keeping him hydrated and eating is good.

I wrote a spiel at the end of the linked post, it goes over the paste information if you are interested.

Post in thread 'I have a crocked neck 6mo old Lavender Roo'

Sep 16, 2023

His neck seems longer that most and it is lik a question mark. At first I thought his left shoulder was dislocated cause it was pronounce over the right. I picked hii up and he does not seem distressed or injured. He was yesterday. he stands at an angle to eat from the feeder. Any body have any idea about this? I have never seen this before and unsure if there is something I need to do or if it is harmfull. He just started mating attempts no crow yet. so Pretty. thanks for your feedback

Can you post photos of him?

It's possible he may be suffering from injury or it may be Wry...

• Wyorp Rock

Thank you again...

I will try to start cleaning it with the peroxide tomorrow...

He has been given 5 days of doxycycline. I ended that about 3 days ago.

As for medications, I don't have a ton on hand... No Baytril. I do have Metronidazole, Amoxicillan, and Doxycycline.

Would any of those work? Also, I'll be gone Monday - Thursday this week for a business trip. I'm going to ask my daughter & husband to care for him while I'm gone but I doubt either of them will be willing to do the peroxide cleaning or shove a pill down his throat.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you again...

I will try to start cleaning it with the peroxide tomorrow...

He has been given 5 days of doxycycline. I ended that about 3 days ago.

As for medications, I don't have a ton on hand... No Baytril. I do have Metronidazole, Amoxicillan, and Doxycycline.

Would any of those work? Also, I'll be gone Monday - Thursday this week for a business trip. I'm going to ask my daughter & husband to care for him while I'm gone but I doubt either of them will be willing to do the peroxide cleaning or shove a pill down his throat.

I'd try to clean it some of it out if possible before you leave. Then put your ointment in the ear, then finish up when you get back.

Hopefully there's a "plug" and you'll be able to remove the majority of it - we can hope anyway!

Of the 3 you have, I'd go with Amoxicillin to see if that helps. Is there a really bad odor?

Do the best you can, he's hung in there this long, if they can keep him fed/watered and give the vitamins, you can take care of the rest after your trip.

I know this must be stressful for you

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hoping the best for him....

 

[TJAnonymous]

I'd try to clean it some of it out if possible before you leave. Then put your ointment in the ear, then finish up when you get back.

Hopefully there's a "plug" and you'll be able to remove the majority of it - we can hope anyway!

Of the 3 you have, I'd go with Amoxicillin to see if that helps. Is there a really bad odor?

Do the best you can, he's hung in there this long, if they can keep him fed/watered and give the vitamins, you can take care of the rest after your trip.

I know this must be stressful for you

OK, I did clean a bunch of gunk out. I couldn't get it all. It did start bleeding... And you were right, he was quite distressed so I'm certain it was hurting him a lot. When I put him back in the cage, he acted dead. Not moving...eyes closed, mouth open. Poor fella.

I did put some triple antibiotic in and all around his ear. I also gave him some Amoxicillan.

Hopefully that will get him through until I get home on Thursday afternoon.