Sick chicken, probably won’t make it. :(

[rebrascora]

I'm so sorry! It sounds like he waited all day for you to come home.

From that photo, here was absolutely nothing that you could have done to save him. The colour of his comb is quite shocking and he was clearly incredibly weak and at death's door.
I hope it is some comfort that he had a good life with someone who truly loved and cared for him and that his memory will be cherished. Maybe if you are artistic you could do one of those plaster of paris foot imprints and decorate it with a few of his feathers and make a memorial plaque from it to hang on your wall.

 

[JulyFly]

I'm so sorry! It sounds like he waited all day for you to come home.

From that photo, here was absolutely nothing that you could have done to save him. The colour of his comb is quite shocking and he was clearly incredibly weak and at death's door.
I hope it is some comfort that he had a good life with someone who truly loved and cared for him and that his memory will be cherished. Maybe if you are artistic you could do one of those plaster of paris foot imprints and decorate it with a few of his feathers and make a memorial plaque from it to hang on your wall.

Thank you so much! And yes, it does help a bit And thank you SO much for all of your help/advice!!

 

[JulyFly]

He was the only barred rock I’ve ever owned, but he was by far the sweetest chicken I’ve met. I’m really thinking about starting a small flock of barred rocks maybe this spring, but as of now I don’t think I’m ready for any new additions anytime soon anyway.

 

[Wil781]

I'm so sorry you lost your rooster! I lost a rooster to Mareks a few weeks ago. He was still walking with the aid of his wings (he used his wings like crutches) it is a cruel disease, after 5 weeks of his condition remaining about the same he started declining and passed. It is hard I know because Rutherford the Rooster was my buddy also, he was my very first chicken. It is perfectly ok to mourn and grieve for your pet.

Taken about a week before he passed

 

[JulyFly]

I'm so sorry you lost your rooster! I lost a rooster to Mareks a few weeks ago. He was still walking with the aid of his wings (he used his wings like crutches) it is a cruel disease, after 5 weeks of his condition remaining about the same he started declining and passed. It is hard I know because Rutherford the Rooster was my buddy also, he was my very first chicken. It is perfectly ok to mourn and grieve for your pet.
View attachment 1538651
Taken about a week before he passed

so sorry! He was beautiful!

 

[JulyFly]

What if it was mareks?? Will it spread to my entire flock? I don’t think it is mareks because he started it walking when he fell and couldn’t get up for quite some time... but just in case are there any precautions I should take??

 

[lilmillefleur]

So very sorry for your loss. Just know that it wasn't your fault, and there didn't seem to be anything to be done for the poor boy. And most importantly, know that he is no longer suffering and that he had the best life he could with you!

About Marek's -- I'm no expert, but there isn't really a way to cure or prevent it. Once it's in your flock, it's there forever. And the virus is literally everywhere. But it usually only pops up once in a while, often when birds are under stress. I would just keep an eye on your flock and euthanize or try to treat if necessary. They should be okay. I am pretty sure the Marek's virus is in my flock because I lost a chick to what I suspected was Marek's a few years back, but I have had a total of 2 losses after that that were *possibly* Marek's but maybe not...

 

[BantammChick]

Oh I am so sorry about your chicken.. I know how sad it is when you lose one.

 

[JulyFly]

Oh I am so sorry about your chicken.. I know how sad it is when you lose one.

Thank you so much!

 

[Wil781]

so sorry! He was beautiful!

Thank you! As for Mareks, I was told by a poultry director from Auburn University that this disease is everywhere pretty much. He said if you own chickens you just about can count on having Mareks but not every bird will come down with the disease. It remains in the ground and is carried by the wind from bird dander. Wild birds and chickens are carriers. All you can do is try to keep your flock as healthy as possible, times of stress are related to birds becoming symptomatic, so I try keeping their routines the same, feed them fermented feed and I give them garlic and oregano oil (one drop of oregano oil to the feed bucket, it is very strong). Once again I am sorry for your loss!