Rooster labored breathing sneezes while eating

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi, hoping someone can point me in the right direction here because I love this guy. He's my OG roo, his name is Roger.

It started a few months ago, after I introduced a BCM roo who kicked him pretty hard in the chest. That roo was immediately separated and has since lived in a separate area with no contact with Roger.

Roger developed a wheeze after that incident, but I kept an eye on him and it came and went, didn't seem to bother him much. Now the past few days, he sneezes every time he eats treats and coughs if he runs too hard, and he has labored breathing. His comb seems slightly purple but only slightly. Coincidentally, one of his spurs fell off during this time and the fresh one underneath was a bloody dirty mess. I tried to clean it that night but he was very resistant. Idk if it has any relation, it's just something that happened.

I tried feeling his crop last night, it felt smaller than it should be he was so sensitive to my touch that he almost fell off the roost from how hard he was pulling away from me. I'm afraid to make him worse.

No other symptoms. I added vetrx to the water in case it's a respiratory issue, but I'm concerned something is inflamed, collapsed, or clogged.

Pictures wouldn't help, he looks totally normal.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

I would start by giving Roger some vitamins. The easiest is to put Poultry Cell in the water. Vitamins will help with fighting any infection.

It could be that Roger broke a rib or something in his chest when he was kicked which is causing his respiratory issues; however, I'd still treat him for one. I have a rooster with a permanent wheeze for the last three years since he tangled with an older one is why I think it might just be an injury.

Is a vet a possibility? If not, you could order an antibiotic online.

Tylosin is an antibiotic helpful with MG/respiratory symptoms. Dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. Here's where you can order it:

https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-powder?_pos=1&_sid=c3b5b9991&_ss=r
https://thecanaryfinchstore.com/product/tylosin-powder-for-birds/
https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/

I've mostly stuck with using Amoxicillin for possible respiratory infections here a couple of times, and it worked well. Dosage is 250 mg twice a day for 7-10 days for a grown chicken. The above sites sell that too. It's up to you.

 

[nuthatched]

Where did the bcm roo come from?

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Hi,

I would start by giving Roger some vitamins. The easiest is to put Poultry Cell in the water. Vitamins will help with fighting any infection.

It could be that Roger broke a rib or something in his chest when he was kicked which is causing his respiratory issues; however, I'd still treat him for one. I have a rooster with a permanent wheeze for the last three years since he tangled with an older one is why I think it might just be an injury.

Is a vet a possibility? If not, you could order an antibiotic online.

Tylosin is an antibiotic helpful with MG/respiratory symptoms. Dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. Here's where you can order it:

https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-powder?_pos=1&_sid=c3b5b9991&_ss=r
https://thecanaryfinchstore.com/product/tylosin-powder-for-birds/
https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/

I've mostly stuck with using Amoxicillin for possible respiratory infections here a couple of times, and it worked well. Dosage is 250 mg twice a day for 7-10 days for a grown chicken. The above sites sell that too. It's up to you.

Thank you very much for the information! We do have a vet nearby, but I wanna avoid that if I can. I'll try the antibiotics in the water first and see how it goes.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Where did the bcm roo come from?

I'm not sure how to answer the question, except that I got him from a local woman who couldn't keep him anymore.

 

[nuthatched]

I'm not sure how to answer the question, except that I got him from a local woman who couldn't keep him anymore.

Ok, i was just checking to see the health situation of his origins, several respiratory issues can spring from new birds.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Ok, i was just checking to see the health situation of his origins, several respiratory issues can spring from new birds.

Yeah, I've had him since November and nobody else in the flock is having issues, so I think he came clean. His owner raised him and loved him, but wasn't allowed to keep him.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It started a few months ago

Roger developed a wheeze after that incident, but I kept an eye on him and it came and went, didn't seem to bother him much. Now the past few days, he sneezes every time he eats treats and coughs if he runs too hard, and he has labored breathing. His comb seems slightly purple but only slightly.

I tried feeling his crop last night, it felt smaller than it should be he was so sensitive to my touch that he almost fell off the roost from how hard he was pulling away from me.

I'm concerned something is inflamed, collapsed, or clogged.

Photos may not help, but can you get a video of his actions? Upload video to Youtube and provide a link or add it to your BYC Gallery and let us know where to find it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-upload-videos-to-the-gallery.1631126/

It would be a very good idea to gather him up, inspect him closely. Look inside the beak for any canker or lesions.

Feel of his body for any feeling of air (bubbles) under the skin, especially around the Air Sacs. There are 9 Air Sacs, you can locate them according to the images below. Also look for any signs of bruising, discolored skin, etc.

The fight happened a few months ago. This is progressively(?) getting worse?

He sneezes when picking up treats - so he's picking things off the ground, this causes respiratory distress. He's sensitive of your feeling his crop or breast, so do check around that area for an air bubbles.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

Photos may not help, but can you get a video of his actions? Upload video to Youtube and provide a link or add it to your BYC Gallery and let us know where to find it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-upload-videos-to-the-gallery.1631126/

It would be a very good idea to gather him up, inspect him closely. Look inside the beak for any canker or lesions.

Feel of his body for any feeling of air (bubbles) under the skin, especially around the Air Sacs. There are 9 Air Sacs, you can locate them according to the images below. Also look for any signs of bruising, discolored skin, etc.

The fight happened a few months ago. This is progressively(?) getting worse?

He sneezes when picking up treats - so he's picking things off the ground, this causes respiratory distress. He's sensitive of your feeling his crop or breast, so do check around that area for an air bubbles.




View attachment 4306684

I just remembered that Roger and his son Arnold got in a quick fight a few days ago, and his breathing got significantly worse after that. I'm gonna check him on the roost tonight but I noticed today his chest looked a little sunken in. I wonder if he had an injury from the prior rooster that the latest scuffle made worse. This is the first time I've seen them even fight, and it ended very fast with Arnold running away so I didn't think much of it. Meanwhile, Roger is still eating and doing his thing, just sounds pitiful while he does it.

I didn't get out to the coop last night so I will tonight with the help of my husband. Thank you for all the info.

It has NOT been progressive, it was initially a wheeze that cleared up for a good while but it's hard for me to remember the exact timeframe because I'm juggling extracurriculars and homeschool needs for two of my kids this year and I have other pets too. My chickens have done remarkably well for two years now, this is our first major hiccup. I suspect is has to do with the air sacs but I'll record his breathing tonight and how he acts when I touch him.

 

[FunnyBunny89]

I just remembered that Roger and his son Arnold got in a quick fight a few days ago, and his breathing got significantly worse after that. I'm gonna check him on the roost tonight but I noticed today his chest looked a little sunken in. I wonder if he had an injury from the prior rooster that the latest scuffle made worse. This is the first time I've seen them even fight, and it ended very fast with Arnold running away so I didn't think much of it. Meanwhile, Roger is still eating and doing his thing, just sounds pitiful while he does it.

I didn't get out to the coop last night so I will tonight with the help of my husband. Thank you for all the info.

It has NOT been progressive, it was initially a wheeze that cleared up for a good while but it's hard for me to remember the exact timeframe because I'm juggling extracurriculars and homeschool needs for two of my kids this year and I have other pets too. My chickens have done remarkably well for two years now, this is our first major hiccup. I suspect is has to do with the air sacs but I'll record his breathing tonight and how he acts when I touch him.

Trying to figure out if he has a chest injury or something else.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/roger-breathing.7976291/