Rooster that burps

[chickcharmer]

My Fonzi boy, last week sounded like he was loosing his voice when he crowed, and eventually lost his voice. When I picked him up his breathing was labored so I brought him inside and started him on Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg. The next morning he was back to his normal crow and so happy and energetic. Kept giving him the doxy but he started to wheeze and crow pitifully again. He crowed for the first time in 2 days yesterday morning and tried this morning but has since stopped again, and just sits in his cage.

I give him the doxy by syringe all thru the day since he eats little and follow it up with water. 2 days ago, I noticed he had a hard golf ball shaped crop so I started giving him olive oil mixed with water by syringe and massaging his crop. The mass is gone, but his breathing is still labored and he burps better than a professional beer drinker when I massage his crop/chest area-I can also hear things moving around when I massage him.

Any help on what to do if anything would be GREATLY APPRECIATED....

Thank you
Ashley

 

[RussianChickens]

Sounds like you've got a case of sour crop. Google treatment for sour crop and LOTS of info will come up! More than I could give you.

 

[RussianChickens]

He may also have some respiratory problem. That I'm much more unfamiliar with.

PS when syringe feeding anything be VERY careful that they don't aspirate it! This could have happened.

After I syringe anything I always hold them upside down by the legs and give them a few good pats on the back to make sure anything that went down the wrong hole comes back up.

It's quite easy for them to aspirate liquid. I had this happen when I had to unclog a hen after feeding her my moms bread. (Her bread is bad, trust me you can stop up a toilet with that stuff!) The upside down and pats on the back fixed it, she let out a couple gargles then 2 good clear squaks and all the water was out.

 

[RussianChickens]

You can try giving duramycin too. Not sure how you spell it though lol

 

[chickcharmer]

Thank you so much for the help...I was worried that I was drowning him with the syringe and after posting the original info he went down hill quickly. I held my sweet boy in my arms and told him it was ok, that he could go, that I loved him very much. He laid his head down, his breathing slowed and he was done. I hear people all the time say..."they are only livestock" but I love my chickens, and especially my boy Fonzi.

 

[bernaboo111]

So sorry for your loss... I had something like this happen before too. My hen just stopped breathing in my arms.

It is sooo awful having an animal die in your arms.

 

[RussianChickens]

I'm so sorry!

I know how you feel! I've had a few pet birds pass to predators in the past. I love my chickens too, you just cant help it, they are wonderful animals!

That's awful sad about Fonzi. I wish he was still here with us. Best wishes to you and your other birds!