Rooster puffed up, lethargic, watery white and yellow poop

[nolitaflat]

Hey all. I’ll preface this by saying one of my rooster’s flock mates, same age and from the same farm, just died last week of Marek’s and/or multiple organ lymphoma. Was told they were vaccinated when I got them but I was lied to.

This morning my rooster was puffed up and lethargic. Tail down. Didn’t seem too interested in the watermelon I gave them. The chickens did escape the pen and were all running around as I tried to get them in, so he was running and flapping around quite a bit then lol. But he also had a watery white and yellow poop.

I just put corid in their water, but I’m fearing it may be mareks as well. No lameness, but my girl I put down didn’t have any either. Attached are pictures of his posture and poop.

Any ideas?

 

[azygous]

It's more likely a bacterial infection or coccidiosis than Marek's. Marek's usually presents with other symptoms at its onset.

Do you have any antibiotics on hand? I'd treat for coccidiosis and infection.

 

[nolitaflat]

It's more likely a bacterial infection or coccidiosis than Marek's. Marek's usually presents with other symptoms at its onset.

Do you have any antibiotics on hand? I'd treat for coccidiosis and infection.

No antibiotics on hand but I did put corid in their water this morning.

After manhandling him (only way I can see, he’s a roo lol) I calmed him down and looked and didn’t see mites? I should also add I’ve finally figured out and he’s losing feathers a bit too. I saw him shake off and some came out, and then there’s been his feathers in the run this week. No bullying suspected.

He has an appt tomorrow at 1:30 if he makes it til then. He’s clearly uncomfortable. Switching between standing on one leg and the other. But no weakness, he walks fine and runs away fine when I’m bothering him.

 

[nolitaflat]

Hey yall, just an update. I did corid that first day and took him to the vet yesterday. She didn’t find bacteria in his stool but she says the corid may have done some work already. She sent him home after being dewormed and having fluids, and sent me with tylan powder and another antibiotics. Today he’s looking a million times better. She said mayyyybe he’s reacting to marek’s and it’s affecting his stomach neurologically, but no lameness or weakness and she really thinks the meds will help. His crop was pretty empty but he lunged for the mealworms she offered him and was going after the scratch, so she said that gave her a lot of hope. He’s in our quarantine pen / dumb baby jail coop whenever we need to separate someone. This morning his tail is perked back up and I saw him going for his food as soon as he walked out of the coop!

I’ll attach a picture. Obviously we aren’t out of the woods yet, but he doesn’t seem to be in pain anymore, has muuuch more energy, and quality of life was my biggest concern. Let’s hope he continues on the right path, but if he ends up declining again I’ll know I at least made the end of his life much more comfortable!

 

[LaFleche]

Glad he is responding to the treatment!

Did you have your deceased bird necropsied by a vet laboratory or what makes you believe that it was Marek's Disease?

 

[nolitaflat]

Glad he is responding to the treatment!

Did you have your deceased bird necropsied by a vet laboratory or what makes you believe that it was Marek's Disease?

Yes, she was sent off to a lab for necropsy. They said mareks or multiple organ lymphoma.