Rooster Survived Coyote Attack - Now Not Eating/Drinking, Gurgling

[rm09boug]

Hey folks! I posted here yesterday regarding my rooster who managed to survive a coyote attack (9/10/19) with just a few scrapes and a whole lot of missing feathers. I put him in the coop to roost last night, but this morning he would not come out of the corner, just standing there, even when I offered his favorite treats.

I figured he has not been drinking, so I brought him inside to give him some water (first from a dish, then we tried a dropper), and he just seemed to fall asleep in my arms while I was carrying him from the coop to the house. After the water, he fell asleep again on me. I should stress, this is a rooster that will peck the living daylights out of you if you try to pet him on a normal day. Now I've been able to hold my fingers covered in mushy food right in front of him and he doesn't do a thing.

Lastly, I noticed when he was sleeping that he was breathing with his beak open and making quiet gurgling sounds. His tongue seems to work a lot, almost like he's trying to swallow? When he does stand, he stands straight up, with his spine almost completely vertical.

I don't know how to evaluate this. It's possible there an internal injury that I'm not seeing, but if that's the case I don't know what can be done for him. How do I know when he's past saving? I love my boy but I hate to think that he is suffering and I'm just torturing him with my care.

 

[chickenpeeple]

Could we see pictures please?

 

[rm09boug]

Pictures of what? The way he’s breathing?

 

[Eggcessive]

It does sound like he may have some internal injuries, spinal, or brain injuries. I would keep him inside in a dog crate. I would learn how to tube feed him to give him nourishment while he recovers. Of course that is if you want to do that. Mix the wet chicken feed, some cooked egg, and give him some Poultry NutiDrench 2-3 ml daily. You can make a feeding tube out of a 12-14 inch length aquarium air tubing, using a 35 ml syringe from the feed store which is good enough for fluids and thin food. Be sure to melt the cut end of the tubing with a lighter so that it is not sharp. A vet can sell a regular feeding tube with a catheter syringe which is ideal. He might get better in a day or two, but that remains to be seen. I am so sorry that he was injured.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some links about how and what to tube feed, along with videos:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ng-guide-pictures-under-construction.1064392/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-go-team-tube-feeding.805728/