Sick Rooster - Need Advice

[HBChick924]

Our sweet boy is very sick, and I’m not sure what to do next… To give a bit of backstory, we got him and two hens from a breeder almost a year ago. Not long after we got them (and after the 2 week quarantine) we noticed they were showing signs of respiratory disease; sneezing, bubbly eyes, some wheezing and coughing. Treated the whole flock with Doxy-Tyl and they all improved. When the cold weather hit, all of the hens were fine, but he started showing symptoms again. So I brought him in, babied him for a couple of days and then back out with the girls. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, another nasty cold snap, and I noticed that he was looking even rougher than the last couple times, not moving around much, not eating or drinking much. So I picked him up and brought him in again, noticing that he seemed pretty thin as well. He stayed inside for 5 days or so, getting lots of good, high protein food, electrolytes and vitamins, but he perked up again and was eating normally. This past Monday night during another couple of really cold days, I went out to shut up the coop, and as I got closer, I could hear loud wheezing and intermittent coughing. I opened the door, and his breathing was extremely labored and his comb was dark red/purplish. I grabbed him and brought him inside again, got him warmed up, got him food, water and electrolytes and some VetRx to help with his breathing and hoped he would make it through the night. In the morning, his breathing was much better, no coughing or loud wheezing, but now his comb was pretty pale and he was just super lethargic. He ate a little bit, but wasn’t really interested. I checked him for mites/lice, and he was covered! I treated him with permethrin dust and I’m not seeing nearly what I saw the other day. Today was day 3 in the house and he’s not really improving, and maybe getting worse. I syringe fed him some electrolyte solution a couple times today, along with some Poultry Cell but since he’s not really eating or drinking much, I’m not sure what I should try next. The only avian vet I’ve been able to locate is at an emergency vet, and while I love him, we have some current financial stresses, and I can’t spend $500+ on diagnostics. Some additional symptoms I’ve noticed: his crop feels like a mostly deflated water balloon, but no sour breath and still wheezing a bit; when I look in his mouth, it looks like he has like brown gunk on the sides of his throat, but I can’t see any further down;he’s keeping his eyes closed pretty much all the time; he kind of looks like he wants to eat, but can’t, if that makes sense. I’ve attached a photo as well. Thanks!!

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

I'm sorry I don't think there is much more you can do. I hope someone with more experience can give you advice!!

 

[Debbie292d]

See if that brown gunk in his mouth looks similar to the picture in this article.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/canker-in-chickens.78133/

It also sounds like he needs an antibiotic to kick the rest of this probable respiratory infection too.

If that's canker, you can order this from Jedds or search around to see if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
https://jedds.com/products/metronidazole-20#:~:text=Metronidazole 20% Powder is a,finches, parrots, etc).

If it's not, don't get that for his other symptoms.

Here are other places to purchase antibiotics:
Jedds https://jedds.com/collections/poultry
Twin City Poultry https://www.twincitypoultrysupplies.com/
https://thecanaryfinchstore.com
Fish Mox: https://hardypaw.com/products/fix-mox-amoxicillin-capsules-fish-antibiotics?variant=44787640008865

Try making a mash out of his feed mixed with water. Sometimes they think that's a treat. If he won't, you could thin that out, add a raw egg yolk, a couple drops of Poultry Cell, and syringe that to him. I hope he gets over this!

 

[Perris]

he’s keeping his eyes closed pretty much all the time; he kind of looks like he wants to eat, but can’t, if that makes sense.

I think the end is near, and the best thing you can do for him now is provide a safe, warm, comfortable place for him to pass in peace.