Sick Rooster

[Stephine]

Yes, whether you have a trusted vet as I do or not. You really need to have a chicken medical kit ready. I agree that educating yourself on caring for sick chickens is also a plus. Gail Demerow authors excellent books on chicken health. But, even then...sometimes you need a vet. Or, be OK with the inevitable death of your chicken. I have had a rooster and a couple of hens who's live were saved by that vet. I just could not diagnose them. Most of the time, I take care of them by running a fecal float test at the UC Davis Lab here in town. It's $10 a sample and exact parasite will be identified whether worm or coccidia. Infection is another story, external is easy to see. But an internal infection, not so easy. Live and learn...you'll develop your own triage style.

Well, I agree. You might lose a chicken now and then. I think that is sadly just part of keeping them. Someone wrote to me:where there’s lifestock there’s dead stock. And while I am committed to take excellent care of my chickens I would not spend hundreds of dollars on vet visits and medicines that would make the eggs inedible and questionable quality of life for the chicken.... When I had an unwell chick in our first batch I called around for a vet - the only one willing to look at her was a 45 min drive away, charged $50 just to get in the door and told me that they had no experience with chicks. They could prescribe an antibiotic and see if that worked. No, thank you. I read up, determined it could be Vit. E deficiency (crazy chick syndrom), gave multivitamins and chick recovered in a matter of hours. With the vet care offered it would have died.
You are very lucky to have chicken savvy vets around. Where do you live Hen Pen Jem?

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

San Bernardino county, my vet is at Loma Linda animal hospital. He grew up on a farm, so has experience with livestock animals. Office visits are $36, if he can't help, it's no charge. Yes, it can be costly to some people, but these chickens are pets. They are beloved members of our pet family, as much as the cats and the dog. So, I am willing to pay if the animal will have quality of life according to it's species.

 

[7sweetgirls]

Thank you all so very much, I truly appreciate all your input. Unfortunately, I had to put Penguin down. He did indeed have Coccidiosis and it was too late by the time I got him to the vet, I am so heart broken. Now I get to tell my "partner", my 5 year old neighbor that our Roo died... I am going to get the books mentioned and get a chicken "medicine bag" together. I didn't like feeling so helpless and not know what to do. The vet assured me that I made the right decision in having him put down, she said he was really sick. Darn it! Onward now. I need to treat my other girls and rooster now too. And I would assume clean out the coop. Vet advised to bring in stool samples from our two dogs who enjoy an occasional "treat" now and then. Ugh... Again, thank you!

 

[7sweetgirls]

Do not give anything with added B vitamins while treating coccidiosis with Corid. Corid works by making B vitamins unabailable to the cocci (which weakens them) and if you give extra B vitamins you are weakening the effect of the drug. Thank you for catching that - I should have been more clear... I have written about these things so often in this forum I feel like everybody should know by now... So, yeah, do one or the other not both at once.
When or if the roo recovers, best is to buy the book „Chicken Health“, keep Corid and nutridrench on hand, maybe an antibiotic if you want to go that route. And Epsom salt, safeguard dewormer, pure elemental sulfur. Then you are well equipped and know more about chicken illnesses than any vet (at least in my neck of the woods and we are in the country)...

Thank you so much, as you can read from my previous post, I had to put our guy down. He was just too far gone. I wrote all your suggestions down and will be making a trip to the feed store soon. Thanks again.

 

[Stephine]

Thank you all so very much, I truly appreciate all your input. Unfortunately, I had to put Penguin down. He did indeed have Coccidiosis and it was too late by the time I got him to the vet, I am so heart broken. Now I get to tell my "partner", my 5 year old neighbor that our Roo died... I am going to get the books mentioned and get a chicken "medicine bag" together. I didn't like feeling so helpless and not know what to do. The vet assured me that I made the right decision in having him put down, she said he was really sick. Darn it! Onward now. I need to treat my other girls and rooster now too. And I would assume clean out the coop. Vet advised to bring in stool samples from our two dogs who enjoy an occasional "treat" now and then. Ugh... Again, thank you!

I am sorry you lost him!
But now you know a bit more and know how to prepare for the next issue.
Yes, it is a good idea to treat all chickens for cocci - it is a harmless treatment and that way you are safe!
No need to clean everything - the treatment will help them develop immunity, so the same type of cocci will not harm them again.
And there is absolutely NO need to test the dogs! Cocci are species specific and chicken cocci will not harm dogs. I am surprised the vet doesn’t know that. If you don’t believe me, do ask your vet to doublecheck. You can save that money and spend it on your chicken medicine cabinet!

 

[7sweetgirls]

I am sorry you lost him!
But now you know a bit more and know how to prepare for the next issue.
Yes, it is a good idea to treat all chickens for cocci - it is a harmless treatment and that way you are safe!
No need to clean everything - the treatment will help them develop immunity, so the same type of cocci will not harm them again.
And there is absolutely NO need to test the dogs! Cocci are species specific and chicken cocci will not harm dogs. I am surprised the vet doesn’t know that. If you don’t believe me, do ask your vet to doublecheck. You can save that money and spend it on your chicken medicine cabinet!

Thanks.... you have really been a big help.

 

[micstrachan]

So sorry for your loss. The wonderful lady at my local feed story reminded me, "You take the experience with you," meaning, as painful as it was, you will be armed with knowledge and experience moving forward to help with the care and well being of your other chickens.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

So-so sorry you lost your Penguin...I know the heart break. I lost three chickens this year: my #1 rooster 3 year old, "Bumni" died from sudden death in January, then my 2 year old hen, "Nutmeg", died in the Vets arms. Finally, my hen "Inky" was taken by a bobcat, from my patio, I couldn't save her. I raised them all from chicks. I still tear up when I think of them. But, two other hens were cured from their illness this year, one had a deadly internal infection. The other a hernia and congestive heart, I was told she would die soon. But, she has made a full recovery! That's the way it goes with animals. They can't tell you it hurts here or I cut myself there. Sometimes, by the time you notice a change in their behavior or appearance it is too late. And, sometimes things just work out. You will learn, and do better for yourself and your pets. Yes, now you just move forward and focus on your other pets that need your help. A wise doctor once told me, "you can't fix everything". Being a type "A" personality, I didn't accept that. But, now, I understand what meant.
Peace to you and God Bless.

 

[micstrachan]

Amazing how these little sweeties steal our hearts, isn't it?

 

[Stephine]

Thanks.... you have really been a big help.

You are welcome!
(just remembering: add some epsom salt to your chicken medicine chest, warm epsom salt soaks help revive a listless chicken sometimes and are good for egg bound hens...)
I am sorry our help came too late for your rooster - sometimes it goes so fast... I found one of my favorite two hens dead in the run this spring after she had run out and eaten treats with all the others just minutes before. No indication of anything wrong. Sometimes there’s just nothing we can do.