My super-sweet rooster is very sick this morning and can't lift his head. He has been going to roost at night, but I have not been able to observe the chickens as much as I normally do since our power has been out and it is dark when I get home from work (with no lights). Over the weekend I noticed he was walking with a little limp and his tail was a bit droopy, but he was running around eating just like normal.
This morning he jumped/fell off the roost and just laid there unable to move. I brought him in the house. He can't stand, walk, or lift his head. I forced him to drink some electrolyte/vitamin water by putting a small amount in his beak with a syringe. He will swallow once, but after that just lets the water run out. I also cooked some corn and he'll eat two piece and then have to rest. I have to hold him up to swallow since he can't hold his own head up.
Upon further examination, his left leg is enlarged and hard, while the right one seems to be tiny (normal??). He also has a large scab on the left leg/thigh. I am wondering if there might be some kind of infection or abscess in the leg that is making him sick. I am going to work on the leg after he's warmed up a bit.
Should I give him some antibiotic like Tylan 50 in case it is an infection? He has not lost any weight. I weighed him 3 weeks ago and he was 5.0 pounds. Today he is 5.2 pounds. He is alert and has no signs of respiratory illness or anything else. He's such a nice roo that I want to give him a fair chance for recovery before we make the decision to cull him.
Thanks!!!
This morning he jumped/fell off the roost and just laid there unable to move. I brought him in the house. He can't stand, walk, or lift his head. I forced him to drink some electrolyte/vitamin water by putting a small amount in his beak with a syringe. He will swallow once, but after that just lets the water run out. I also cooked some corn and he'll eat two piece and then have to rest. I have to hold him up to swallow since he can't hold his own head up.
Upon further examination, his left leg is enlarged and hard, while the right one seems to be tiny (normal??). He also has a large scab on the left leg/thigh. I am wondering if there might be some kind of infection or abscess in the leg that is making him sick. I am going to work on the leg after he's warmed up a bit.
Should I give him some antibiotic like Tylan 50 in case it is an infection? He has not lost any weight. I weighed him 3 weeks ago and he was 5.0 pounds. Today he is 5.2 pounds. He is alert and has no signs of respiratory illness or anything else. He's such a nice roo that I want to give him a fair chance for recovery before we make the decision to cull him.
Thanks!!!
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