Sick Rooster -- Help!

[Dale River]

New/Learning backyard chicken owners here! Got our flock as chicks from the local farm supply store back in April in hopes of having our own fresh eggs. The one who turned out to be a rooster is sick. I need help figuring out what it might be and how to help him.

The rooster has been sneezing for several weeks now. He has had intermittent white foam come out when he sneezes (see picture from Sept. 24th).

Also, we spotted a bloody chicken dropping a few weeks ago (not sure which chicken), so we treated the whole flock for coccidiosis with Corid for 7 days, then 2 weeks off, then additional 3 days. (At the recommendation of this forum...thank you!)

Last night, I heard a terrible clanging noise coming from the coop. I went outside thinking perhaps a predator was giving it a go, only to discover our rooster lying on the floor of the run below the coop. He looked lifeless. When I came back outside with a stronger flashlight and a lamp, he sat up. He appeared to have vomited, as specks were all over his face. My kids and I also smelled a very strong sweet smell coming from him. (See photos from Oct. 12th.)

I got out our spare pet cage for isolation, took off his crow collar, and put him in there thinking he wouldn't survive the night. My normally feisty rooster didn't put up any fight or make any noise at all about being held and taken out of the coop run and put into a smaller cage.

He survived and had a fine time crowing this morning, albeit a little weakly at first. He pecked me twice while I was putting water & food in there for him this morning. I did check his crop before putting anything in there for him, and I couldn't find anything abnormal-- no hardness, squishiness, doughiness, or enlargement.

I still have him isolated in a pet cage (see photos from Oct. 13th) in hopes of minimizing exposure to our hens of whatever he has.

From what I've read online, it could be coryza or another respiratory illness that starts with "m" (can't remember at the moment). My reading said both were viruses and antibiotics wouldn't help. However, many people advocate giving an antibiotic to a chicken who is sneezing with white foamy stuff. That's the 1st issue.

The 2nd issue is whatever happened last night-- do chickens have seizures? That is the only thing I can think of that would have made a noise like that and perhaps sent him tumbling down the ramp and into the run below. How do I figure out what that was/is?

We really like our rooster! He keeps the girls in line and makes sure they all get into the coop at night in a timely fashion and is protective of them. I just need help figuring out what to do for him.

Do I give him an antibiotic? Do I keep him isolated? I just have no idea where to go from here.

Other Health Info: His crop was fine this morning-- not doughy, squishy, firm, etc. My daughter & I couldn't find it. Vent is clear from droppings. He is still sneezing with occasional white, foamy stuff coming out. Checked for lice/mites & didn't see any, but he was also getting cranky by that point

 

[Dale River]

Does anyone have any wisdom on this one? I’d love to do the right thing for our little rooster, but I don’t know what that is. I’d greatly appreciate any help.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have any idea how he came down with a respiratory disease? Have you added a new bird or have they been exposed to wild birds? He has a lot of marks on his face and comb. Is he banging his comb in a cage or pen? Do his nasal secretions smell rotten? Have you seen any bubbles or foam in one of his eyes?

I am not a fan of no crow collars. Do you think that he may have had an issue with it that triggered the incident and fall in the coop? Is there any way that you could try to get his respiratory issue tested by a vet to see if he is contagious? The two things you mentioned—mycoplasma and coryza—are bacterial and can respond to certain antibiotics. ILT and infectious bronchitis are other common diseases that are caused by a virus. If he has one of those, they have all been exposed already and possibly at the same time. So for that reason and for his sake, I would put him back with his ladies.

If testing is not available by your regular vet or state poultry vet, then a company, Zoologix will test for 8 different respiratory diseases by having you take swabs of him, and return them. Here is a link about that:
http://www.zoologix.com/avian/Datasheets/PoultryRespiratoryPanel.htm

 

[Dale River]

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my long post & respond! I really appreciate it!

No idea how he came down with a respiratory disease. No new birds added. They have free range of our large backyard, so they have exposure to wild birds. Their water is covered, but when it rains, I catch them drinking from muddy puddles on the ground & other places where water may have collected. Squirrels go through our backyard/trees also--not sure if that could cause any respiratory ailments.

You said you saw a lot of marks on his face & comb-- could that be from vomit? He had bits & pieces all over his comb & face from that (or what I presume was vomit, anyway). Otherwise, are you referencing the tiny little white & black speck spots on his comb? Are those considered marks? Some of the hens have gotten those also, and I don't know what they're from or if I should be doing something about them. I have never seen or heard him banging his head/comb in the coop, outside, or in his pen. However, with the noises I heard coming from the coop last night, I have no idea what happened in there.

His nasal secretions don't have a rotten smell from what we can tell. The only odd-smelling thing we have smelled coming from him is the strong, sweet smell coming from him last night after we found him in the run that we have under the coop. I am guessing he vomited since his face/comb were covered in wet specks & his feathers were wet also.

We have never seen any bubbles or foam on, in, or near his eyes. It all seems to come out of his nostrils when he sneezes.

I'd love to hear your perspective on no-crow collars. I want to learn everything I can. When I looked into them, I couldn't find anything online about them harming in any way unless they get too tight. When his was on, I ensured I could fit one of my fingers underneath it. I realize I may have just stumbled across all the sites sharing the same opinion, so I really do want to know why you don't like them. We'd rather he have no collar, but our neighbors don't share our opinion.

All that said, he shook his head and backed up for a few hours after having it on for the first time a few months ago, but he hasn't shown us that it's bothered him on a day-to-day basis. I have a hard time thinking it would've been the collar that caused the noises I heard in the coop last night. He's usually chill in the coop at night & will only hop down from his roost & come down the ramp if he doesn't recognize the person approaching. That was not what I heard last night.

I don't have a vet for the chickens, but I will look into the link you sent. Thank you...I didn't know that was an option.

So you recommend putting him back with the girls even if he has mycoplasma, coryza, ILT, or infectious bronchitis? Just wanting to make sure I'm understanding correctly. I know I'll get the hang of all this eventually if I keep at it, but it's been a steep learning curve for me.

Not sure what good it will do, but I did make a trip to the farm store today to pick up some Vet Rx and treated him with that tonight since I hadn't heard anything back yet on what to do for him.

Thanks a million for taking the time to read all of this & respond! I deeply appreciate your willingness to help!