Rooster suddenly ill.

[jak2002003]

My rooster was perfectly healthy this morning.. crowing.. running about, chasing the hens and flying up onto the roof to show off.

I went out and came home in the afternoon a few hours later to find him slumped by the feeder.

He will try to act normal if I get near him.. but as soon as I back off he flops his tail down (he usually has it held upright over his head) and he will stand still and look kind of just 'floppy'.

I can't catch him... but I fed him some mealworms and noticed he was not standing up to eat them, instead kneeling down on his lower legs. After eating he did a poop.. which was just light green foam surrounded by lots of clear liquid.. very watery... so does no look like he has been eating. After eating he also stood up perfectly find and walked normally.

I have had Marek's disease in the flock about 2 years ago... where I lost several birds. The rest stayed healthy and laying well, even had chicks. This rooster is about 1 year old. I have only 7 chickens now and have never added any new birds to the flock. They love free range in the day and sleep in the coop at night.

If it was Marek's disease back again could it strike so quickly? (I moved house and have all new pen and coop so thought I left the virus behind). Have not had any sick birds since moving here over a year ago now and for several months on top of that from the old place.

 

[abraga]

I think mareks don't hit that quick. Have u wormed ur birds lately. 1st thing i would suspect is cocci/parasites...and check him for bumblefoot..call a vet and try to take in a poo sample. Mareks can show back up though.

 

[Saaniya]

No not marek's I think ..
Maybe there's too hot in temperature so he got heatwave. ..
If he had watery clear liquid that's his heat he pass off like liquid just like we sweat in summers but if he pooped green thats just cz of green grass or any green meals ..if foamy then I'll worry for some parasites or bacterial infection ....


If its bacterial infection then you should give him antibacterial medication & also deworm him. Too


Love to ur roo

 

[rebrascora]

As someone who has Marek's, I would say that if you brought chickens with you that had been exposed to the Marek's virus even if they didn't show symptoms, then the chances are the virus came with them. It can lie dormant for some considerable time and then be triggered by something, often stress related..... Depending on the strain of Marek's you have, it can cause sudden death or start with the more obvious paralysis and deteriorate slowly. Most of mine that have had paralysis were fine one moment and then floundering on the ground the next. Marek's compromises the immune system too, so he may be suffering from some internal infection that his immune system has failed to control, which may be causing the green poop.

Not saying it is Marek's but it is certainly a possibility.

 

[jak2002003]

Thank you all for the advise. He is much worse today.. and just hiding under a bush.

I still can't catch him... he is very wild acting. My other birds seem fine.

He is not eating now.. can't tempt him out even with mealworms. I have set up a 'trap' to get him this evening when he goes to his roost place in a tree... He will have to walk under a large basket and I will trap him in there.. then I can give him some coci medication in the morning and de worm him + I have some spot on treatment for ticks and fleas I will use on him too.

 

[jak2002003]

Sadly I found him dead in the morning. The other birds seem fine. Hope this was a one off thing.

 

[rebrascora]

So sorry to hear that he didn't make it and keeping fingers crossed for you that it is an isolated incident.