Rooster has been standing up with head on ground for two days

[yates-chicks]

we have a rooster ,he'a a RIR , a year old has been is great shape and yesterday when i looked at him he was standing up but he has his head laying on the ground ,,
you can make him move and he looks like a drunk chicken we picked him up and checked his neck and stuff no signs of any trama
he will lay down and his head is still on the ground
he was still trying to eat if you put the food right next to him
i feel he'll probably not make it but it makes we wonder what the cause was
have any of ya'll have any idea

 

[ozark hen]

goodness, Micki, that sounds horrible. I don't have an answer for you but could you post a pic for those who might know?

 

[mypicklebird]

search the site for limberneck and google avian botulism, that MAY be what you have. Lots of home supportive help you can do if this is what he has. Not a great prognosis, but not hopeless. Involves flushing out his crop and detox. He could also have head trauma, viral infection, inner ear issue...

 

[horsejody]

Paralysis due to Marek's can start in the neck too. It's rare, but it can happen. It happened to my neighbor's hen. She had to be put down because she couldn't eat or drink.

 

[yates-chicks]

thank you for pointing me toward some things to research and try to figure out
thanks for your time

 

[horsejody]

Post a picture and keep us updated.

 

[yates-chicks]

well i cant post a picture now i did the search on the things metioned and it all failed ,, or rooster passed on late yesterday
but it truly thank everyone for taking the time to help me out
none of the other chickens are sick ,,
thank you micki
well i'm off to build what i call my nusery for my newly hatched babies and thier mom

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

It sounds like he had Newcastle disease.

Exotic Newcastle Disease (END)
Exotic Newcastle disease (END) is a deadly viral disease affecting all species of birds. END spreads quickly
and can infect and cause death even in vaccinated poultry.
If you spot any of these signs, take action immediately by calling USDA’s toll-free hotline 1–866–536–7593. Or
call your extension office, local veterinarian, State Veterinarian, or State animal/poultry diagnostic laboratory.
Signs of END
• Sudden death and increased death loss in flock
• Sneezing, gasping for air, nasal discharge, coughing
• Greenish, watery diarrhea
• Decreased activity, tremors, drooping wings, twisting of head and neck, circling, complete stiffness
• Swelling around the eyes and neck​

 

[dlhunicorn]

:aww sorry you lost your bird.
Please have a good look around your property for sources of water (stagnant) or forgotten grains that may have become infested with mycotoxin (a mold/fungus which is not always visible to the naked eye) and in particular check the bedding in your coop (often underneath you will find wet spots and forgotten grains.
Usually when this occurs and death follows quickly with the limberneck symptom you have described it is one of the two.
Read here on more info on limberneck (head hanging down) / crookneck (head crooked over back) and ataxia (imbalance):
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=emergencies&action=display&num=1160928615