Rooster not recovering from lice

[hollyclark04]

Hi there. I have a juvenile rooster who had a pretty bad infestation of lice. We treated him and the lice appear to be gone but he is having a tough time recovering. Are there any additional things we should be looking to treat that may have accompanied the lice? He was pretty skinny and weak when we started treating. Now he hangs with the chickens outside but barely moves throughout the day. Eats and drinks a little on his own

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I'm sorry your rooster is unwell. How old is he? What feed does he eat, including treats? Have you checked his crop to make sure it's empty in the morning? I know that @aart is active right now and is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I hope your rooster is feeling better soon

Also, what did you use to kill the lice?

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Also, can you share some pics of his poop?

 

[aart]

Good questions above.
I would isolate for observation and give him a drop of nutridrench or other poultry vitamins, like Savachick electrolytes/vitamins.
Then nothing other than a good chick starter and plain water.

When I have a bird that is acting 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[hollyclark04]

Good questions above.
I would isolate for observation and give him a drop of nutridrench or other poultry vitamins, like Savachick electrolytes/vitamins.
Then nothing other than a good chick starter and plain water.

When I have a bird that is acting 'off' I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

Super helpful, thank you! I will try what you suggest. I’m newer to having birds so checking them thoroughly is still something I’m learning to do. We did isolate him for most the day today in a separate pen area with his own food and water. We added poultry booster to the feed, vetrx and APC to the water. We had been giving him water with the liquid rooster booster vitamin supplement when he was really weak with lice (syringe fed). He now walks around and pecks now and then, we see him eat and drink some, it just doesn’t seems like he’s getting better than that. Spends most the day just standing still.

 

[hollyclark04]

I'm sorry your rooster is unwell. How old is he? What feed does he eat, including treats? Have you checked his crop to make sure it's empty in the morning? I know that @aart is active right now and is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I hope your rooster is feeling better soon

Also, what did you use to kill the lice?

Thank you so much for the suggestions. We give him layer feed Crumble (Dumor) with poultry booster. APC in the water. We gave him poultry cell mixed in his water when he was really weak with a syringe. That got him back to being able to eat on his own again. He is probably only 4 months old

 

[aart]

and APC to the water.

I would cut that out, or give him separate water that is plain.
What is his regular feed,(brand, model, protein and calcium percentages)?

 

[aart]

what did you use to kill the lice?

This^^^ would be good to know.
What treatment?

 

[hollyclark04]

Also, can you share some pics of his poop?

 

[hollyclark04]

I think the poop looks good?