Rooster sick...then better....then sick...then better...sick again! What the heck?

[Miss Chuckles]

hi, my year and a half old roo started having problems walking about 6 weeks ago - falling over, looking 'drunk' when he walked, not being able to get up. He was eating/drinking fine with help, poo was a little runny for a while and quite green at times, but otherwise he had no other symptoms besides not being able to walk. His left leg in particular seemed unable to work. I thought perhaps I od'ed him on ivomec as I had recently treated the flock and his behaviour came about 2 days later. I nursed him away for an entire week thinking he was a goner and suddenly he rallied. By the next day he was back to normal and crowing as usual. A week later the same thing happened again, lasting another week. He got better and now, several weeks later, he's started stumbling again and not crowing. I thought maybe he had an unusual vitamin deficiency that for some reason wasn't affecting the others, so they now have vitamin tonic in their water, but it still seems like he's going down again. I've noticed every time this happens his comb turns dark purple. Could he be having a stroke? In need of a specific nutrient? Have a weird disease (all the hens are fine)? Thanks

 

[Lacrystol]

Humm, at first I was going to say Mereks but it doesn't affect chickens that way plus he's kind of older and should be past the danger stage. I wonder if he's getting or eating something to cause it. Perhaps a poisnous plant or something? I mean to affect him one week then normal the next. Is he Free ranging?

 

[ValleyPoultryFarms]

By drunk do you mean he walks a little swayed? I had this disease trouble my polsh bird.
My bird suffered a minor heatstroke. It sounds like your rooster might've too?
It may not effect him as much in the cooler times, but may increase in severity in hot weather increasing lethargy.

That's my two cents, good luck.

 

[Miss Chuckles]

It starts off with him stumbling to the left and backwards and not being able to walk straight. It progresses to the point where he falls over and then can't get up at all and can't use his legs. But he can still hold his head up just fine and eat food if it's held in front of him

He is free ranging but so are the others and they're ok. I've thought about poisonous/toxic plants in the garden but haven't identified anything so far besides potato plants but there's no sign of the plants being eaten. In terms of heat I live in northwest Ireland - if the temp goes above 75 it's pretty exciting - so I think he's ok temperature wise.

Vets have very little knowledge of poultry up here - I've spoken to two and they really don't know where to even begin, so any thoughts or advice much appreciated!

 

[Lacrystol]

Those symptoms your discribing sounds like mareks however mareks is not and on and off thing. It doesn't occurr one week, then fine for a week, doesn't do that. Humm, no other symptoms, let me think bout this one, no coughing or sneezing, I wonder if it could be an ear infection too. But I don't think that would be an on and off thing. It would make him lose his balance though.. When he's fine for the one week, is he just fine as far as crowing, or is he up and walking around like nothing has ever happened..

 

[Miss Chuckles]

The 2 times he's gone through this(both times lasting about a week) he made complete recoveries and seemed normal and healthy. No sneezing, wheezing or inflamed or oozing nasal passages or ears. His eyes are clear too. He does seem to retract his neck into his body when it happens and like I mentioned earlier, his comb turns varying shades of purple and black at times - I assume this means he's not getting enough oxygen? He also goes completely silent, which is another reason I'm worried now - no crowing, no chuck-chucking, nothing.

 

[UrbanviewFarm]

Wow, this is a new one!! If it weren't for the leg and neck issues I would suggest inflammation of an internal organ(crop?). This has me totally stumped as well.

 

[Miss Chuckles]

Yeah it's very strange and starting to get very frustrating. He's completely unable to walk again since yesterday afternoon and I reckon he'll be like this now until middle of next week if the pattern is the same. His comb was also quite purple this morning but now it's back to red. One thing I did notice and forgot to mention is he is breathing is slightly labored - his beak is a little open (but no congestion) all the time. Still alert, still trying to move his legs and still eating with a good appetite. Could he be having heart problems that get worse then better?

 

[leadwolf1]

What you are describing sounds exactly like Marek's. Marek's can present with symptoms and then go into remission, much like cancer in humans, lyme disease, etc, then return. If you can do it, I would euthanize the rooster and have a necropsy done. You really need to know what you are dealing with. Most states have labs that will do one for little to no cost. If you can't bring yourself to euthanize him, quarantine him in his own little shelter. Give him lots of extra protein, probiotics and vitamins. .5 mls poly vi sol daily plus 400 ius of vitamin E twice daily. If it is a vitamin deficiency this will clear it up. I really think this is Marek's and the poor guy is giving it his all to beat back the disease.

 

[leadwolf1]

Marek's causes tumors in the lungs, liver and spleen...also in the reproductive tract. That is probably what is happening to your boy. The hens stop laying and the boys stop crowing. I know that I am going to lose another to Marek's when these things stop