Rooster puffed up

[Wyorp Rock]

I let him back out with the other chickens for the day today so he could move around. I wanted to see what he was pooping at night so my plan was to bring him back to the cage at night then go from there. I picked him off the roost and his crop is empty. He didn't fill it up before he roosted. I do see him eat some here and there. He does have plenty of energy so it's not like he is weak from not eating. Does this sound normal after an impaction?

Are there other roosters?

Sometimes roosters don't eat a lot when they are with hens, but I would be concerned if he's not filling up some before roosting.
I would check him again tomorrow, if he's not filling up, then you may need to pull him aside and see if he will drink and eat.

 

[JDGreene]

No there are not any other roosters. He was excited to see his hens and that is what he went straight for when I put him out there, if you know what I mean. I had already put him back in the cage and he eats and drinks some and poops some, although not as much as I would think is normal, but has plenty of energy. I'll probably put him back out with the other chickens tomorrow and just monitor him from there so he get back to his regular routine.

 

[JDGreene]

He laid a big pile of firm normal looking poop this morning. I found something in it that he passed. It looks like a big blob of urates but it is very firm like modeling clay that is about half hardened.

Have you ever seen that before or know what it is?

That thing passed after all (or most) the grass strands were passed. Not sure if that is a side effect of a grass impaction or the cause of his troubles.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm not sure what that would be - possibly buildup causing some constipation/blockage?
I've seen something similar in a few threads where it seemed a hen was constipated, the owner was finally able to get that cleared after a while (days!).
I wonder if it's just urates that harden in there or what - but that's speculation.

I hope that was all of it and now everything is cleared up (most of his problem) and he starts to improve more.

 

[JDGreene]

He still doesn't fill his crop up when he roosts. It is completely flat. I do see him peck at a little food here and there and he has plenty of energy so I don't know what to make of that.

Do you think he just hasn't adjusted back to eating good?

 

[JDGreene]

I'm feeling like he still has an impacted gizzard. Is there something else to give to pass stuff through the gizzard? It doesn't look good for him if the gizzard doesn't clear.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm feeling like he still has an impacted gizzard. Is there something else to give to pass stuff through the gizzard? It doesn't look good for him if the gizzard doesn't clear.

Is his poop looking pretty good?
Any more signs of worms?

I would probably give him coconut oil for another couple of days and maybe 1-2 days more of the stool softener to see if that helps. You stopped doing that right?
Maybe entice him with bits of egg in his feed. A little white cooked rice with buttermilk can provide probiotics and sooth the intestines too, so that's something to consider trying.

 

[JDGreene]

No signs of worms. I have do the 2nd dose of dewormer tomorrow.

I quit giving the docusate sodium the other day when I turned him loose. This morning, where he roosted at (if he didn't move) was a little poop that seemed to be harder than normal (seemed compacted) with some grass in it.

So now I have moved him back to the cage. When I done that he pooped a normal looking chicken feed poop (if that makes sense) and a few more poops that were brown and very watery. So maybe things are just now breaking loose with all the dulcolax gave him previously.

I did give him 2 tsp of oil this morning. This evening I may give him a dulcolax pill. What do you suggest?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No signs of worms. I have do the 2nd dose of dewormer tomorrow.

I quit giving the docusate sodium the other day when I turned him loose. This morning, where he roosted at (if he didn't move) was a little poop that seemed to be harder than normal (seemed compacted) with some grass in it.

So now I have moved him back to the cage. When I done that he pooped a normal looking chicken feed poop (if that makes sense) and a few more poops that were brown and very watery. So maybe things are just now breaking loose with all the dulcolax gave him previously.

I did give him 2 tsp of oil this morning. This evening I may give him a dulcolax pill. What do you suggest?

Sounds like a good plan to me.
You are hanging in there with him, sounds like he's pretty agreeable

 

[JDGreene]

He pooped like something fierce today. I had to wash his hiney. It was bad enough that he actually sat on his butt for most of the day, almost like a dog would. Never seen a chicken sit like that. I was kinda worried so I gave him sugar and electrolytes with a syringe which helped him perk up.

He actually filled up his crop for tonight so something happened. I think I quit giving the stool softener or oil too soon.