Rooster Laying down

[EllieMae77]

Hi, about 5 days ago I noticed one of my roosters laying down , he would get up and walk but seemed to be wobbly. the next day I put him in the avery closer to the house , He will get up and walk even run but was very clumsy. I read a thread that said give him vitamin B12. There's nothing wrong with his feet , legs ,he looks and acts totally healthy .He would just rather lay down on his knees and beck around. He is about 4 years old.If anyone could give me any ideas ,Id apperciate it.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would give him B 2 riboflavin 1/2 tablet crushed in water daily if he is walking on his hocks. That is found in human B complex (not b12) or in Poultry Cell. Have you added any new birds recently?

 

[Anon112]

I would give him B 2 riboflavin 1/2 tablet crushed in water daily if he is walking on his hocks. That is found in human B complex (not b12) or in Poultry Cell. Have you added any new birds recently?

I know this thread is old, but do you know how long it should be before improvement would be seen if it's a vitamin deficiency?

My rooster started laying down more and more a little while back. I've now isolated him in the barn with a hen. He has foot/leg issues and I'm now worried that maybe lately he's been having trouble accessing the treadle feeders.

He is eating well, as far as I can tell, and the handful of poops I've seen from him since putting him in the barn are normal looking. His comb is normal. Eyes are clear. Yesterday I started giving him B-complex (1/2 tablet by mouth). Today at the grocery store I found a B vitamin with Riboflavin in it.

It doesn't help that we just had a brutal cold snap, so no one has been happy and they've all been hunkering down more.

I was going to give him about a week and then try to get into the vet if he doesn't improve or gets worse.

 

[Eggcessive]

If they have a riboflavin (vitamin b 2) deficiency, they should start to get better within 1-2 weeks. It depends on when treatment is started. If not started right away, the condition can progress to permanent lameness. They could be other reasons for leg problems though. I usually recommend human super b complex tablets 1/2 tablet daily for treatment. I would make food available close to him (a balanced chicken feed) near him. Moistened feed might be attractive to him.

 

[Anon112]

If they have a riboflavin (vitamin b 2) deficiency, they should start to get better within 1-2 weeks. It depends on when treatment is started. If not started right away, the condition can progress to permanent lameness. They could be other reasons for leg problems though. I usually recommend human super b complex tablets 1/2 tablet daily for treatment. I would make food available close to him (a balanced chicken feed) near him. Moistened feed might be attractive to him.

Thank you so much for this response---I know your expertise is in high demand around here!

This makes me feel a bit better about the course of action I'm taking. First noticed the laying down about a week or so ago. Started him on B-vitamins a few days ago. What I picked up at the grocery store yesterday was Super B Complex (I'd been giving him a different B-complex that did not have Riboflavin) and he got 1/2 of the Super B this morning. He's eating a flock maintainer feed (non-layer), and I've been making it into a mash each day and making sure he's getting some to eat each morning and afternoon. In the morning he takes big bites and seems to have a good appetite. In the afternoon I bring him and the hen some chopped kale and grubs or mealworms for a treat.

I'll watch him for a week or two and then get to the vet if he's not improving. Thank you again!

 

[Anon112]

For anyone with a rooster with similar symptoms:

Poppy has now been getting B vitamins for 6 days (switched over to the Super B on day 3). He is standing up more and today he crowed for the first time in over a week. I'm hopeful that he's feeling better. I'll continue to update.

 

[Eggcessive]

So good to hear that Poppy is improving. Thanks for the update.

 

[Anon112]

So good to hear that Poppy is improving. Thanks for the update.

Yes, and thank you again for the advice.

I'll keep updating, partly because it's frustrating sometimes when you find a thread with a person with the same symptoms, some advice on treatment . . .and then you never find out how things turned out.

I can still tell that something is not quite right. His legs seem more steady (they were shaking two days ago), but his tail is still drooped down, and sometimes he looks a bit puffed up. However he seems more mobile, he's still eating, so we'll keep going with the B vitamin and see what happens. I'm hopeful that the crowing and more standing is a good sign.