Rooster has lost his voice!

[Penny spender]

Poor Alvin! This morning he has no voice! I noticed last week that he seemed a bit raspy...kind of darth vader voice. Seems happy. Still eating and wooing the ladies and doing the things that roosters do. No new chickens since October. It' been cold here but not excessively over the last month (-10 C but now more like -5C to plus 2C during the day). Anyone got any ideas? Should I be worried?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have a video of him?

Check his crop at night, then first thing in the morning before he eats/drinks (full at night/empty in the morning).

Have you looked inside his beak for any obstruction, plaques or lesions?
Have you noticed any coughing, sneezing, runny eyes or mucous from the nostrils?

How much ventilation do you have in the coop? Could be that there is not enough airflow and dust from bedding/feed has irritated his airways.

I would keep a close watch on him, if he gets worse or stops eating/drinking, then separate him out. You can also try something like VetRx to see if that makes a difference.

 

[Penny spender]

I do have a video but its too large to load. No coughing or sneezing or doscharge that I've seen. Just the raspy breathing. Coop is pretty good for ventilation (could probably be more but the way it' built wont let me - rebuilding in the spring). I'l check his crop tonight....but he seems pretty happy and healthy other than losing his voice.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think videos have to be uploaded to youtube, vimeo, etc. then you provide us a link.

The raspy breathing is concerning, so keep a watch on that. Anything inside his beak?

 

[Skipper81]

How old is he and is he molting?

 

[Penny spender]

He found his voice again (at 2:30 in the morning much to my Hubby's dismay!).

Everything seems good now...even his breathing sounds normal. Ugh...they just like to torment us I think!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad he seems to be doing o.k.!