Rooster with lots of health issues: discharge, blind, leg issues

[galliformom]

Hello all,
I took in an old (i think), sick chicken that was dumped at a wildlife sanctuary a little less than a year ago. Hes a bantam "phoenix" rooster. He had no toes, his eyes were totally sealed shut, skin mites/other parasites, ear infections, leg mites, and nasal discharge when I got him. Ive managed to treat the ear infections and skin parasites, and he has perked up considerably. He started crowing in the morning, eats and drinks fine, poop is normal. I havent managed to improve his legs. Ive attached a picture:it looks like he had pretty severe leg mites at one time. Ive tried to rub coconut oil on his legs to soften them up, but no luck. Any suggestions? Wil this improve, and how can I help him?

He also continues to have yellowish discharge from his nose, and seems to have labored breathing at times. Ive tried putting VetRx in his water for the past month, and it might have helped a little, but definitely hasn't stopped it. Is there anything else I can do?

He lives inside during the winter and goes out with my flock in the summer, but stays separate in his own crate (because he cant find his food otherwise). His bedding is typically hay. I havent been able to find an avian vet in my area (any suggestions for SE Ohio are welcome), so thats not an option at this point, unfortunately.

I know it seems silly but I really want to help this little guy live his best life! Thank you so much in advance!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

It sounds like he has some chronic respiratory disease. I would worry it could spread to your larger flock. Not sure what you can do. There might be some antibiotics you can get from a feed store, but I don't know what type would be best. There is Denegard, which is off label for chickens, but used in Europe to treat and control mycoplasma infections in poultry. Sold in the US for swine. That will help IF he's got a mycoplasma infection.
His comb has had frostbite damage, and it's possible that's what also caused his toe loss. Raise scales indicate leg mites, and I see some on the outside edge of his left foot. You can smother them with vaseline or coconut oil, but it takes time for new scales to grow in flat and smooth after the mites die. I would keep up with the coconut oil, not so much for softening, but to smother any mites... work it up under those raised scales.
You've done a great job fixing him up. It would help him if you trimmed his beak... it's overgrown on the top. Use a small pair of nail clippers to snip the excess off and shape it. It's like fingernails, and as long as you don't get into the "quick" it won't hurt him a bit. You'll see the overgrown part is quite thin and has no nerves or blood vessels.
Good luck with him... you must have named him.
Hope someone chimes in with some useful info.

 

[Tiana's chickens]

So kind of you to take in this special needs rooster, he's in great hands with you
Not sure exactly but to me, his feet look a bit infected like make he has bumble foot? I can't be certain on that though, hopefully someone else with more knowledge then me will know

 

[Nuchi]

I am a newbie with poultry but this is some generic info that helps most animals, just do a little research first as I don't know how applicable they are.

I would keep up the coconut oil as well as add some brewers yeast to his diet as it is very nutritional and fights parasites.

I would also think of trying a high nutrition and low calorie diet as long as his health is stable and he dose not lose weight in a unhealthy mater(not saying he needs to lose any at all). Doing this slows the metabolism and boosts the bodies immune system if done right. A lot of people seem to be recommending nutri-drench to help get more nutrition into there diet but I don't know how good it is for a permanent diet.

If his eyes are intact and he had his vision when he was young he might still be able to get his vision back but if the eyes where never open then that part of the brain never developed meaning no chance of ever seeing without spending big money like winning the lottery big let alone finding someone to do it. I know this was not part of the question and you probably knew most if not all of that about the eyes.

The discharge might be a trick to get rid of without a vet to test for what it is. If I remember more I will post as I feel I am forgetting things. I am also sure more people will have more valid info.

As a last resort with no vets around I would look at if chickens can eat old man's beard lichen as it is used like penicillin just nothing is resistant to it. have to go into the forest to find it and you need the stuff that when the outer skin is pealed back it is white like a bone.

Again I would to my own research of this stuff as its potentially not safe in this situation and for this animal. I really don't want to hurt someones animals with my info.

 

[Kat C]

His top beak looks too long and may interfere in eating. Might want to carefully file it down.
info here https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/poultry/feed-health/trimming-chicken-beaks-claws-spurs/
or
https://www.omlet.co.uk/guide/chickens/chicken_care/chicken_claw_and_beak_trimming

 

[Ola Montgomery]

Hello, galliformom! I don't think that your act to help the bird looks stupid. You're well done. Most recently, we spent 500 Australian dollars on treating our favorite hen! Some friends told us that we are crazy. But when her condition was grave we were ready to do everything for her. The Vet asked if we want to do a full blood test for our chicken? It was AUD 230. We was agreed, although for sure it was superfluous. But on the other hand, we did not want to regret later that we did not do our best. Our chicken suffered from intestinal parasites, she was very drowsy with faded plumage, poor appetite and apathy, sometimes diarrhea. We cured her and now she makes us happy as before! Here you have been given very good correct advice, do it and everything will be fine, good luck to you and your feathered hero!
(In the photos you can see my chicken Henny when she was ill)

 

[galliformom]

It sounds like he has some chronic respiratory disease. I would worry it could spread to your larger flock. Not sure what you can do. There might be some antibiotics you can get from a feed store, but I don't know what type would be best. There is Denegard, which is off label for chickens, but used in Europe to treat and control mycoplasma infections in poultry. Sold in the US for swine. That will help IF he's got a mycoplasma infection.
His comb has had frostbite damage, and it's possible that's what also caused his toe loss. Raise scales indicate leg mites, and I see some on the outside edge of his left foot. You can smother them with vaseline or coconut oil, but it takes time for new scales to grow in flat and smooth after the mites die. I would keep up with the coconut oil, not so much for softening, but to smother any mites... work it up under those raised scales.
You've done a great job fixing him up. It would help him if you trimmed his beak... it's overgrown on the top. Use a small pair of nail clippers to snip the excess off and shape it. It's like fingernails, and as long as you don't get into the "quick" it won't hurt him a bit. You'll see the overgrown part is quite thin and has no nerves or blood vessels.
Good luck with him... you must have named him.
Hope someone chimes in with some useful info.

Yes, his name is Quasi Modo! Thank you for the advice, I'll keep up with the coconut oil and thank you for reminding me to trim his beak. He is so patient with being handled all the time for his treatments, I think he may like it.

 

[galliformom]

Hello, galliformom! I don't think that your act to help the bird looks stupid. You're well done. Most recently, we spent 500 Australian dollars on treating our favorite hen! Some friends told us that we are crazy. But when her condition was grave we were ready to do everything for her. The Vet asked if we want to do a full blood test for our chicken? It was AUD 230. We was agreed, although for sure it was superfluous. But on the other hand, we did not want to regret later that we did not do our best. Our chicken suffered from intestinal parasites, she was very drowsy with faded plumage, poor appetite and apathy, sometimes diarrhea. We cured her and now she makes us happy as before! Here you have been given very good correct advice, do it and everything will be fine, good luck to you and your feathered hero!
(In the photos you can see my chicken Henny when she was ill)

Aww, she is precious! Yes my chickens are my pets, especially Quasi considering he lives inside most of the time. I want to do everything I can for them!

 

[galliformom]

I am a newbie with poultry but this is some generic info that helps most animals, just do a little research first as I don't know how applicable they are.

I would keep up the coconut oil as well as add some brewers yeast to his diet as it is very nutritional and fights parasites.

I would also think of trying a high nutrition and low calorie diet as long as his health is stable and he dose not lose weight in a unhealthy mater(not saying he needs to lose any at all). Doing this slows the metabolism and boosts the bodies immune system if done right. A lot of people seem to be recommending nutri-drench to help get more nutrition into there diet but I don't know how good it is for a permanent diet.

If his eyes are intact and he had his vision when he was young he might still be able to get his vision back but if the eyes where never open then that part of the brain never developed meaning no chance of ever seeing without spending big money like winning the lottery big let alone finding someone to do it. I know this was not part of the question and you probably knew most if not all of that about the eyes.

The discharge might be a trick to get rid of without a vet to test for what it is. If I remember more I will post as I feel I am forgetting things. I am also sure more people will have more valid info.

As a last resort with no vets around I would look at if chickens can eat old man's beard lichen as it is used like penicillin just nothing is resistant to it. have to go into the forest to find it and you need the stuff that when the outer skin is pealed back it is white like a bone.

Again I would to my own research of this stuff as its potentially not safe in this situation and for this animal. I really don't want to hurt someones animals with my info.

Thank you for the advice. One of his eyes is totally sealed shut, it has been since I got him. But the other eye has the teeniest hole that I think he can sort of see out of. He can at least see shadows, I'm pretty sure. I dont think he was born like this, I think it was a result of neglect. Poor thing.

 

[coach723]

If his eyes are sealed shut with crusty/gooky stuff you may be able to gradually clean them and get them to open. What happens after that you'll have to see. Veterycin makes an eyewash that would help, or you could just use sterile saline. I'd just do it very gradually and gently with wet compresses and maybe Q tips and see if you can make any progress. He probably does have some respiratory issue that may be chronic and symptoms may come and go, and it may be contagious to your flock. He does look like he had pretty bad frostbite at some time in the past, you can try daily soaks in epsom salts also for his feet, which may help the condition of his feet, and also check the bottoms of his feet for any signs of bumble foot. It was very good of you to take him in and make his life better.