Rooster in distress?

[detroit313]

Sundays I usually leave my babies the whole day. They have food and water readily available. Today when I got home they were all ( 1 Banty RIR, 3 RIR chicks, and 1 cubalaya rooster) in their coop asleep. I noticed there was a tray in their run and an umbrella?? "Where did that come from?" I asked myself. I have a really nice neighbor and I thought maybe she brought some treats and shade for them. It was 84 today. They do have a tarp over half of their run and they can go into the coop if they get hot. When I got to my door there was a note from the neighbor it said this:

"your rooster went into distress . . . Laid on his side crowing and crowing. Cooled him in a shallow tray of water-shaded the pen-after about an hour he pecked at some bread then climbed the ladder. I think he's okay but u better check."

Was he maybe just hot? Has anybody ever heard of anything like this? I really appreciate any help.

 

[California Ducken]

I wonder if he was dust bathing and she does not know what the heck he was doing........
my roos and hens make a happy clucky noise when they are dusting. And if you've never seen a chicken dust bathe you wonder if they were having a seizure or something like that.
Good Luck!

 

[sammi]

it's possible the heat got him..if so..he should get some electrolytes..

but as California Ducken posted...he could have been having a delirious dust bath...LOL
the first time I saw my rooster taking a really good dust bath, I thought something was wrong with him...looked like he was in distress and squirming in a very odd way.
I thought he had dug down in the dirt and had got his leg caught under a tree root or something..or was having some sort of seizure..
scared me to death..
but he was fine...

how is he now?

 

[sammi]

really nice neighbor tho...

 

[ivan3]

Hi! If he behaves puny in the morning (not getting off roost, low activity level, feathers all `puffed' out and/or tail hanging low, etc.) post answers to the questions listed here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3569

Did you observe panting/shallow rapid breathing with beak held open? Wings half open and held away from the body?

84°, with some shade available (even with a high humidity) doesn't usually impact them unless they are already stressed by something else.

I'm hoping that your neighbor saw some version of Chook Sun Worshiping or dust bathing. This shot was taken in late May and the temp. was near 90° and humidity level was between 60%-80%.

They can look like they are expiring, but they are merely tranced.
Keep plenty of fresh water available. A cheap window fan hung from the outside of the fence is somewhat helpful. Keep a thermometer hanging in run and in coop.

 

[California Ducken]

You guys are too much. I love those pictures....Now I need some like that.

Yes keep us posted in the AM.

 

[detroit313]

Dust bathing never crossed my mind. He's fine now, and has always been fine. He's crowing as usual and happily scratching around. I'll have a talk with her and explain the odd but essential habits of poultry. Thanks a lot to everyone.