Rooster refusing to eat.

[MartinsPoultry]

Hes four months old, we got him from tsc at a day old with other chicks. At the time we thought he was just the runt but learned he had a maturation problem and vision issue to where he was behind everyone. He would eat like a horse so we didn't denigh him food. We have dewormed and mite treated the whole flock.

But this one rooster has lost all of his weight. Im to the point im mixing chick starter with adult feed to try and put weight on him. This has been going on for over a week and now he has stopped eating entirely. Im putting small bits in his mouth he eats it but doesnt want more. The chick starter and adult feed is medicated. What do I do?
Hes one of my favorites and a pet with his disabilities.

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

I don't think you will like the answer. But, if he is in pain and wasting away, there is the kinder option. Something we do for our animals, but let our own human kind suffer, which I find ironic.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos or a video of him?

What is the "adult feed" you are giving him?
What did you deworm with?

Chick starter or an all flock/flock raiser feed usually have more protein than layer feed.

If you have vet care available, it would be best to have some testing performed - a fecal float test can tell if there is still any type of internal parasites (worms) or a cocci overload. A gram stain can rule out bacterial infection.

You may want to consider tube feeding him to keep him hydrated and get nutrition into him.

It's very possible at his age, that he may have a disease like Marek's which can also cause wasting.

As @RoosterCogburn7 mentions, if he is wasting and seems to be suffering, then sometimes it is best to make that very hard decision and let him go.

 

[MartinsPoultry]

For dewormer i use panacure its what my vet suggested to use in very small doses, and its worked as well as squash seeds.

The adult feed is Kalmbach layer feed, and same brand chick broiler starter - grower with 22% protein my birds love it. The chick feed is medicated to fight and treat cocci

guaranteed analysis for broiler feed
Crude protein 22.00%
Lysine 1.15%
Methionine 0.50%
Crude fat 3.50%
Crude fiber 4.00%
Calcium 1.40%
Phosphorus 0.60%
Salt min 0.20%
Salt max 0.70%
Vita a 8k iu/lb
Vita d 2k iu/lb
Vita e 18 iu/lb


guaranteed analysis for Layer
Crude protein 16.00%
Lysine 0.75%
Methionine 0.28%
Crude fat 3.00%
Crude fiber 3.90%
Phosphorus 0.50%
Salt min 0.20%
Salt max 0.70%

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Did he have worms before - you had a fecal float test performed?
Do you have some photos or a video of him and his poop?

If you have a vet that can test for Cocci overload that would be good. Even if he is being fed a medicated chick starter, this does not always prevent Coccidiosis.

Not growing, wasting, not eating, could also be disease or he may have some genetic disorder that is just now showing.

If you do end up losing him, sending him for necropsy would be a good idea, this will let you know what you are dealing with, especially if you plan on selling/trading/giving away hatching eggs, chicks, started pullets, etc. in the future.

 

[MartinsPoultry]

here is a photo of him back on the 11th of this month. He was outside with the flock just poking around.

 

[MartinsPoultry]

Did he have worms before - you had a fecal float test performed?
Do you have some photos or a video of him and his poop?

If you have a vet that can test for Cocci overload that would be good. Even if he is being fed a medicated chick starter, this does not always prevent Coccidiosis.

Not growing, wasting, not eating, could also be disease or he may have some genetic disorder that is just now showing.

If you do end up losing him, sending him for necropsy would be a good idea, this will let you know what you are dealing with, especially if you plan on selling/trading/giving away hatching eggs, chicks, started pullets, etc. in the future.

Only issue is I wont be able to afford a necro. I live week by week cleaning two houses and that goes into feed for the animals. Even if my birds don't show signs of worms I worm them yearly, if not every 6 months with all the greens and free ranging they get. No video of his stool as I have yet to see him stool today. He is in a rubbermaid container beside me so I can keep an eye on him.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do the best you can to get him hydrated and eating. I don't see anything wrong with the food analysis. Looks like sufficient proteins, etc. That said, some birds may have trouble processing nutrition, so you may want to offer extra poultry vitamins and see if he will take some egg, tuna, sardines, beef liver or something similar.

 

[MartinsPoultry]

@Wyorp Rock late yesterday evening he started to throw up the food and water. We decided to euthanize him to end his suffering. He hit his last up yesterday morning. Sad to see him go but he wasn't willing to try anymore.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm so sorry