Rooster is sick

[Mike Casey]

Got them as chicks? So about 6 months old? What breed? What has your weather been like? It's been wet and cold here, mine like to sleep outside too, but it takes them a few days to adjust to these quick weather changes.
Deworming is a choice, depending on your own situation. Not always necessary, but worms can devastate a flock quickly.

Check his crop first thing in the morning, before he has a chance to eat. The crop should be empty/flat. Also look under his feathers, especially up under the wings, looking for bugs/mites/lice etc. Check his legs for scaly mites. Also take a good look at the hens. They could be better at hiding symptoms than he is.

If you can, try to watch him poop and see what it looks like. There are many different kinds of poops that are normal, but some poops can identify problems quickly. Take pics and post if you can.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the help..he is a Rhode Island Red as is five of the hens...they seeem fine I did notice the other night that he roosted by himself away from them and tonight he is under the coop with my Mallard and Pekin duck...they were all raised together...

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

As many questions as you can answer the more we can all try and help.

 

[micstrachan]

Poor baby. The blue tipped comb immediately made me think of a respiratory infection. Anyone else? Unfortunaty, I’m not sure what the best course of action is. Wondering if there is indeed a sour crop, if it’s causing him to aspirate. This sounds rather dire to me.
@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive@EggSighted4Life @azygous

 

[Wyorp Rock]

comb is turning dark around the edges. Tries to walk but flops down....he had some fluid come out of his beak

Can you post some photos of him?
How old is he?
Is he pooping - what does it look like?
What type of food/treats do you feed?
You don't mention your location - what is your weather like?
Is he having any difficulty breathing?

Bringing him in where you can monitor him would be a good idea - a rooster isolating himself is very sick.

I agree with @WVduckchick check his crop first thing in the morning to see if it's emptied, look him over for lice/mites.

A comb during dark can be an indication of not enough oxygen -some common causes would be organ failure, infection or respiratory illness.
The fluid coming from his beak does sound like a crop issue, but there could be an underlying cause like worms, coccidiosis or infection. Flopping around when he tried to walk (if you have a video that would be good) - there's so many causes it's just hard to know.

Do your best to keep him hydrated, don't worry about food for a day or so until you figure out if his crop is emptying.
Keep us posted.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

noticed that his comb is turning dark around the edges. Tries to walk but flops down. He has not crowed in almost two weeks..he had some fluid come out of his beak this evening...and tail feathers are drooping...any ideas??

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sorry you are having trouble with your boy. Sounds serious to me.

Since they don't get locked up at night, I wonder if there was an attack that started it? You say he hasn't crowed for 2 weeks..

I'm a little at a loss to advice... It's not often I suggest a vet, but..

I agree with Wyorps' questions and recommendations.

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

Does he seem congested? Put your finger inside the beak and see if it feels slimy or slippery. If it does start him on erythromycin.

 

[Mike Casey]

 

[Mike Casey]

Here he is this morning..was able to catch him and bring him to the garage.. was walking around but still stumbles..couldn’t feel an impacted crop...sounds congested..thanks for helping..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Here he is this morning..was able to catch him and bring him to the garage.. was walking around but still stumbles..couldn’t feel an impacted crop...sounds congested..thanks for helping..

Can you give us a better photo of the tips of his comb?
Sounds congested? Coughing, wheezing, mucous from the nostrils, watery or bubbly eyes?
Does he still have water/fluid coming from the beak?
What do you feed him?

The stumbling is concerning - can you take a fecal sample to your vet for testing of worms and coccidiosis?

Do your best to get him hydrated, offer poultry vitamins in his water and try to encourage him to eat. If he doesn't want his normal feed, you can entice him with some chopped egg.

Stumbling can be from a number of things - injury, diseases like Marek's, worm and coccidiosis overload and neurological/developmental disorders.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

View attachment 1173782

He is a beautiful cockerel!

So many things include those symptoms.. Coryza, New Castle, Mareks, IB... I have zero experience with respiratory illness, but I am here to learn.