Sick Rooster - Help

[ChBRooster]

My good rooster, Charles, has fall sick these days. His symptoms:

He is laying in one position sitting on his knees, moving sometimes, but with some difficulty.

Has some green diarrhea and it's a little lethargic.

He has been eating and drinking regularly, and to my relief, still crowing.

Based on my researches, the symptoms correspond to Avian Cholera (Pasteurella), then I isolate it from the rest of the pack, in an airy and sheltered place of the sun (it is very hot around here this time of year). I provide food and water in abundance.

I'm treating him with a water-soluble antibiotic called Terramycin.

Am right? Could do anything else? Thanks for any reply.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is Charles? While he sits on his knees, does he also have curled under toes? How long has he been doing this? Do you know if he was vaccinated for Mareks disease? If you can post any pictures of him, that might be helpful. Will he take food or water for you if you hold it up to his beak or place it near him? The green droppings probably are from not getting enough to eat.

What do you feed Charles? I would offer him water plus some vitamins including B vitamins. Riboflavin is important if he has a deficiency, and that may cause him to walk on his knees with curled under toes. Mareks disease can do that as well. Chicken feed with water added, egg, or chopped liver may be good to feed him.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you have photos of Charles and his poop you would like to share, that would be good.

Getting a fecal float and gram stain performed by your vet would be a very good idea.
It's hard to know what he may be suffering from - could be anything from Coccidiosis, Cholera, Enteritis to Marek's or anything in between.

If you can describe more symptoms we may be able to help you further. (coughing, wheezing, discharge from eyes, nostrils or beak, ruffled appearance, weight loss, respiratory distress, swelling of the body, crop not emptying, signs of lice/mites, etc.)

Knowing his age and how long you have had him would be helpful as well.

 

[Eggcessive]

Chickens with fowl cholera look very ill, and may have a dark comb, swollen face and wattles, nasal and eye drainage, poor appetite, diarrhea, and are lethargic. Charles sounds like he could have several other things, but may not be sick with cholera hopefully. Any pictures of him might help.

 

[Eggcessive]

A chicken sling, homemade out of a piece of cloth attached to a box or dog crate might be something to get him up and in front of his food and water. Here are some pictures of what other people have designed:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/versions-of-chick-chairs-please.1166308/

Here is a video of one in use:

Human B Complex vitamins that include riboflavin as well as poultry vitamins can be used to treat leg problems:

 

[ChBRooster]

He is almost two years old. At the time when I brought him home he should have been around 4 weeks old

"While he sits on his knees, does he also have curled under toes?"

If I got it right, no.

"How long has he been doing this?"

Five days ago he started acting weird, hiding in the corners. Soon afterwards came diarrhea and lethargy. Sitting on his knees started yesterday afternoon and worsened this morning.

"Do you know if he was vaccinated for Mareks disease?"

I definitely have no idea. Probably not.

He is eating and drinking water normally. The crop is full.

I am giving growth ration, which is rich in vitamins, minerals, etc. And water with soluble antibiotic Terramycin.

 

[ChBRooster]

From what I researched, Avian Cholera can affect the bird's joints, which would explain sitting on the knees.

He looked better later this afternoon, walked a lot, scratch the ground (with some difficult), ate a banana that I offered in chunks, crowing a little, tried to have some "action" with an unsuspecting chicken that entered his place...

A picture of him sitting on his knees:

 

[Eggcessive]

If you have a little chopped liver or hamburger, or some B complex, I would give a little to supplement him, even though he gets it in his feed. Here is an article showing riboflavin (vitamin B 2) deficiency:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency/

Hiding in corners, lethargy, and the difficulty walking still sound like Mareks, but the best way to get a diagnosis is to get a necropsy by your state vet after death. So keep that in mind down the road if he should get worse and die. Here is some info on Mareks disease and how to find your state vet and what to do with a body:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq.66077/

http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[ChBRooster]

Charles late this afternoon. Looked better than in the morning.

Scratching the soil, looking for some food... until he dropped to his knees. This happened a few times, but he got up and continued his business.

 

[Eggcessive]

I tried to view the video, and it said “unavailable.” If you posted it to YouTube, you may need to post a link here.