Rooster with dark/purple comb - has respiratory symptoms and stumbles around! Help!

[srhagan92]

I have a black penedesenca rooster that is about 6 months old. He has a dark purple colored comb now, is sneezing and wobbles around. He kind of always wobbled, but it has gotten worse. Some of my other hens that are about the same age have the same respiratory symptoms with nasal discharge also. So I mixed some powdered electrolytes into their water and added some VetRx, which is basically like Vicks for chickens from my understanding. It has seemed to help some, but they are still presenting the same symptoms and the rooster's comb is still the same. I checked his feathers and I think he has lice because I found small tan colored bugs around his vent area. Don't know if that could cause the comb issue or not, but the respiratory problems are still a concern. The hens are also getting white stuff and manure, that is matted to their bottoms. I thought about adding duramycin to their water, but didn't know if that would help.
This is my first thread, so I tried to be very detailed and do everything like I'm supposed to. Any help would be wonderful! Thanks!!

Will try to add pics later.

 

[dracoe19]

The lice could be causeing some of their issues. I would keep them on antibiotics for at least 1.5. To treat the lice use Permethrin 10. You dilute it in water and spray the birds. Make sure to spray under their chin, their wings, stomach, vent and back. I spray them all over along with their coop, bedding run and other things they come in contact with. Replace all the bedding after you spray to get rid of potential lice hiding in it. This treatment will be immediate to the bird and stay on them for a while. Keep an eye on the respitory issues. I think the comb coloration is because he is stressed and sick. If he is really bad I would keep him inside in a crate for a while until he starts to show progress. Hope they all make it!

 

[Aj1911]

nutri-drench in the waters, 1 table spoon per gallon, dust for mites/lice (i use pro-zap poultry dust), give them a day or 2, the purple comb could be from blood loss same with the stumbling with a bad mite infestation and the sneezing might just be from the dust around, unless you can hear a rattle or theres colored discharge from the nose i wouldnt worry about any respiratory problems just ye

if they dont clear up in 3 days of the vitamins and the dusting (also clean and dust the coop as well) then i would give tylan powder in their water.

 

[srhagan92]

Thank you guys! I thought the comb might be from the lice. They also hadn't been getting outside like they should be for about a week. So I'm sure stress was a factor. They've been free ranging again though and seem to be overall better. They seem to be very congested and have clear nasal discharge as well. They sneeze and have a gurgling in their throat some. The rooster hasn't been crowing either, I forgot to mention that earlier.

 

[srhagan92]

What could the white matted stuff and matted manure be from? They have never done any of this before and I haven't had tons of experience with chickens. So im sorry if I ask dumb questions lol.

 

[Spunkyrooster]

From my limited experience, I think the rooster needs antibiotics. That is what was recommended to me for my hen with respiratory distress. I call her "sneezy" because she seems to sneeze all the time. Her breathing is always labored, you can see the throat struggle.

It's easy to do, ask your local Agway.

It's worth a try, esp. if you feel he is dying anyway.

 

[Betsy57]

I have a black penedesenca rooster that is about 6 months old. He has a dark purple colored comb now, is sneezing and wobbles around. He kind of always wobbled, but it has gotten worse. Some of my other hens that are about the same age have the same respiratory symptoms with nasal discharge also. So I mixed some powdered electrolytes into their water and added some VetRx, which is basically like Vicks for chickens from my understanding. It has seemed to help some, but they are still presenting the same symptoms and the rooster's comb is still the same. I checked his feathers and I think he has lice because I found small tan colored bugs around his vent area. Don't know if that could cause the comb issue or not, but the respiratory problems are still a concern. The hens are also getting white stuff and manure, that is matted to their bottoms. I thought about adding duramycin to their water, but didn't know if that would help.
This is my first thread, so I tried to be very detailed and do everything like I'm supposed to. Any help would be wonderful! Thanks!!
Will try to add pics later.

My 2 1/2 year old rooster began having a hoarse crow this week. He has always had a good, strong, clear crow. I figured he had a little cold or something but was concerned it was some contagous respiratory problem so I put him in isolation. I've been giving him antibiotic shots and antibiotic in his water. I put him back in with the gals today and he ran about 10' towards his gals, dancing and immediately his comb and wattles turned purple. He didn't seem to mind but to me that was an EMERGENCY! I figure he isn't getting air so he is turning purple. I hurried up and put him back in isolation and after a few minutes his color returned to normal. He was breathing heavy so I figure he has something wrong with his respiratory system and will keep medicating him in isolation and pray for the best. I had to put down a gal a few months ago with serious problems breathing (weezing really bad). I hope this doesn't lead to this. I hate to lose Red, he is a wonderful rooster. There are so many conditions these poor chickens can get, it can be so hard to identify what exactly the problem is and of course, there is no lab now in our area thanks to our governor and his budget cuts. I have some Tylan ordered and am anxiously waiting for that to come in. I am currently using pennicilin for the shots and tetracycline in his water.