Rooster keeps losing wing feathers and is shaking

Kaeny

In the Brooder
Nov 3, 2018
3
2
14
Greensboro NC
I have a rooster that I bought from the fleamarket about a month ago. He finally is getting along great with the hen that I have but since a few days ago I see that his wing looks really bad and now it seems that he’s losing more feathers on his body right under the wing. Also I noticed that he is always laying down now and he seems to me to be shaking as if he were cold however the hen is perfectly fine.
I have attached pictures.
I would like to know y’all’s opinion before I put him down as Im Concerned about it being a disease and wouldnt want Boobie, the hen to get sick. I hand raised her and would hate to lose her. Please help! Thank you.
 

Attachments

  • 7E16A338-F518-4955-A1CE-670188E12DE9.jpeg
    7E16A338-F518-4955-A1CE-670188E12DE9.jpeg
    428.7 KB · Views: 55
  • B89AB7D6-55E8-4831-ABCA-27CEED4960CE.jpeg
    B89AB7D6-55E8-4831-ABCA-27CEED4960CE.jpeg
    257.3 KB · Views: 21
  • 8131FDE8-4536-4EB9-8F0D-7ACAAE025A7F.jpeg
    8131FDE8-4536-4EB9-8F0D-7ACAAE025A7F.jpeg
    734.9 KB · Views: 23
I have a rooster that I bought from the fleamarket about a month ago. He finally is getting along great with the hen that I have but since a few days ago I see that his wing looks really bad and now it seems that he’s losing more feathers on his body right under the wing. Also I noticed that he is always laying down now and he seems to me to be shaking as if he were cold however the hen is perfectly fine.
I have attached pictures.
I would like to know y’all’s opinion before I put him down as Im Concerned about it being a disease and wouldnt want Boobie, the hen to get sick. I hand raised her and would hate to lose her. Please help! Thank you.
Can you get a better photo of the wing loss?
It's hard to see - what does the skin look like?

I would chalk feather loss and possibly not being too active up to molting, but the mention of the shaking and the photo of him laying down....I'm thinking something else may be going on.

Photos of his poop may be helpful.
Have you looked him over closely for lice/mites?

I agree, get him hydrated, offer him some poultry vitamins and try to get him to eat.
If he won't take his normal feed, then try a little chopped egg.
 
Hello. I apologize if took me a while to get back to you with more photos. Here they are.
He didn't seem to be in pain when we were holding him but he was trying to get away. While we held him, I didn't feel him trembling.
He never goes into the coop In the upper level and he's always sleeping on the ground that's usually wet and has poo.
I couldn't get pictures of feces but I do know he's always very thirsty. The water only last about 1.5-2 days and its a 1 gallon waterer.
 

Attachments

  • 444A633E-749F-48C2-A87F-3F2478FCF807.jpeg
    444A633E-749F-48C2-A87F-3F2478FCF807.jpeg
    850.7 KB · Views: 16
  • 5C37CA15-4F29-46A9-9B95-914F8F6CCFBA.jpeg
    5C37CA15-4F29-46A9-9B95-914F8F6CCFBA.jpeg
    653.4 KB · Views: 16
  • 6C4E14B1-F0DE-451E-ABBF-6E7C78D347F7.jpeg
    6C4E14B1-F0DE-451E-ABBF-6E7C78D347F7.jpeg
    646.9 KB · Views: 19
  • 9B2E8170-79F6-4039-8980-4A156B31EE1F.jpeg
    9B2E8170-79F6-4039-8980-4A156B31EE1F.jpeg
    555.6 KB · Views: 16
He's not molting, looks like he has some type of injury to his wing.
If you don't have vet care, then you'll need to try to help him out.

Check him over really well for any other wounds or injuries - around his back, neck, under the wings, underneath him, etc.
Cage him somewhere with some bedding (shavings/straw) where he can stay dry, off the ground and be protected from weather.

Flush the wing with saline, betadine or chlorhexidine (hibiclens) and apply a triple antibiotic ointment.
Trim feathers away from the wound if you need to so you can see them better and they will stay cleaner.

I'm going to take a guess he may have infection. You can find Procaine Penicillin G at Tractor Supply get pack of 20 gauge needles and some syringes while you're there. Dosage for a large rooster would be 1/2 to 1 ml depending on how big he is. Give him an injection in the breast muscle once a day for up to 7 days. Alternate sides each day so he doesn't get so sore.

If he is laying in poop, then you may also need to clean his vent really well.
While you are examining him, check him over for lice and mites too.
Drinking a lot of water could be due to infection, but you will want to check his crop several mornings in a row to make sure it's emptying overnight.

Since he's not moving around much, keep water and feed close by so he can get to them. Vitamins in the water or mixed with some feed to make a mash would be a good idea too.
 
Last edited:

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom