Rooster has stopped crowing and very weak

[micstrachan]

Yes, that’s true about stress. That’s why I asked if he’s sort of separated himself. He seems fragile right now, so I wouldn’t do anything drastic. However, do kill the lice and/or mites aggressively.

 

[Conrad Schweizerhof]

@micstrachan do you have any suggestions for that besides the permethrin powder I used today?

 

[micstrachan]

As far as keeping him healthy in the mean time, extra protein can help (egg, fish, meat, etc.) and poultry vitamins and electrolytes in his water.

 

[MickWithChicks]

Your best bet for the lice is a Permethrin dip (permethrin powder mixed in water with a wettening product such as baby shampoo), dip your rooster into the mix.

If you can get some Ivermectin for the lice and parasites too, that'll help. Try to source a topical ivermectin if you can.

You need to be aggressive with the issues right now, permethrin and ivermectin are your best bet.

If he has these issues, chances are that so does everyone else in your flock. Treat them all at once.

 

[Conrad Schweizerhof]

Hi @MickWithChicks should I do the dip tomorrow even though I just gave him a dust bath of it today?

Im not really seeing any topical ivermectin locally, should I get some of the regular paste?

 

[MickWithChicks]

He'll still have the dust on him, but the dip will go past the feathers and right to the skin, especially when using a wetting solution.

What's the strength of the paste that you can get? Put some to a cotton tip and apply to the back of the neck making sure you get on-skin contact.

If he's drinking, you could try an oral drench ivermectin solution instead. That'll do a better job of any internal parasites, but could cause further stress on his system. Most oral drenches are 0.8mg/ml, so you'd need to mix it at 13mL per 1L of water.

Follow the diet as suggested by @micstrachan.

 

[Conrad Schweizerhof]

So, update this morning, his physical health is still poor, he's not moving much, I did get him to eat and drink again.

but the good: yesterday when I held him I wound up covered in dozens of lice, this morning when I held him I didnt have a single one, so I guess the permethrin did its job

so now he just needs time to recover hopefully? I pulled out a couple of the underfeathers and the nits that were attached to them, should I go through and do that for all of them?

 

[Eggcessive]

Treat him again in 7-10 days with the permethrin. Then again in another 7-10 days if you still see lice or the nits. They hatch every 10 days, and if treated within 10 days, they cannot lay more eggs.

Your rooster looks very ill, probably not from just the lice, but something more serious. Was he vaccinated for Mareks disease? It could be his heart or another organ failure, but Mareks disease could cause a failure to thrive. What do you feed him?

Place him in a dog crate with food and water, and try to keep him with his flock. Offer him soft soft cooked egg, a small bowl of wet chicken feed. Poultry NutriDrench orally several drops a day or electrolytes added to his water would be helpful. Use an old towel, paper towels, or a puppy pad as bedding. Collect some fresh droppings and have your local or avain vet do a fecal float for parasites, such as coccidiosis or worms. Take a picture of any unusual droppings and post it.

Many times we can’t know what is wrong until they die, unfortunately. If you lose him, get a necropsy through your state poultry vet. Here is a link to find yours:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings Conrad Schweizerhof,

When a rooster becomes so weak that they are having trouble walking or standing, you know it's serious. You are right to be concerned.

There is more to his condition than lice or mites.

He is pale; I would administer a vitamin supplement with iron in it. Give it to him orally for three days. And as micstrachan, suggested, you should put electrolytes in the water for few days. Also, give him some, in a syringe, full strength. About 1 mL, will do him some good. These two things should give him a boost.

He also needs meat protein daily, at least a tablespoon a day. If he is not eating feed, offer cooked grains such as brown rice for energy, cooked vegies and diced fruit to raise his blood sugars, which are probably low. Cooked food will digest easily and quickly, and if he has low appetite, the cooked food should entice him to eat more.

If he stops eating entirely, then, you'll have to feed him a slurry of bird meal replacement with a syringe. Or, you can tube feed him if you know how. Hopefully it won't come to this.

A picture of his poops could indicate what is ailing him. I know you looked him over, but check again.

Do a basic exam:

• Check under his feet for cuts, scabs, or sores.
• Check the shape and color of his pupils for any changes.
• Look inside his mouth for any sores or growths.
• Also smell his mouth for anything foul smelling.
• Smell his body too, there may hidden wounds under his feathers, that are infected.
• Check his vent for any caked up feces that could be clogging it.

When a chicken gets thin, it's because they're not eating enough due to infection, have diarrhea, have internal parasites taking their nutrients, or even tumors (but tumors are more common in hens). Most times it is more than one illness that overwhelms the bird. If it is chilly at night where you live, he may have congested lungs. Listen for any gurgling, wheezing or labored breathing when you pick him up.

But, his poop is an important clue, so get a picture and upload it, so the members can see it.

I would also put him in a hospital crate, for at least a day or two, to better monitor his progress, medicate and treat, feed and give the rooster a quiet place to recover. As he starts to feel better, you can give him visits with hens. However, if you have multiple roosters, you will have to treat him in the pen. Because if you remove him, you may not be able to return him, as, the other rosters will attack him.

These are my thoughts on your rooster. Other members will have advice, please consider them too.

God Bless

 

[Conrad Schweizerhof]

Hey @Eggcessive and @Hen Pen Jem , no he wasnt vaccinated for Mareks because I hadnt even heard of that when he hatched I lost a couple of his siblings to it last year, I was really hoping I was in the clear cause I read somewhere that they usually dont get it after a year old.
I havent noticed any breathing problems or any bad smells but I will look around a bit more in a bit.

I got him in a crate out in the coup before I had to leave earlier with some nutridrench in his water and it looks like he pooped while I was gone, looks kinda undigested and I think thats a spot of blood