Sick rooster

[gadgetgrl]

Well, my rooster has suddenly become very lethargic. He stares off into space like he is in a trance. He is not eating or drinking. He had pure white diarrhea yesterday, but today it is bright green. I called the vet and left a message for him to call me back so I could make an appointment. He has never called back. Any suggestions. What should i do? These are my first chickens and I am clueless.

 

[SobbaChickens]

Hi neighbor!!

I live about 15mins south of Ottawa. What vet did you call? We always always go to Smith in Ottawa

How old is your rooster?

 

[chooks4life]

Sounds like poisoning. But I could be wrong. Birds are so hard to diagnose without great potential of error, so many of their symptoms are alike or identical for so many different problems... Activated charcoal is a good first stop, even for viruses, and over-proliferation of bad bacteria. The trance like staring is usually associated with toxicity, but so is twitchiness. Or it can be. Depends on the level of damage. If you have pets, kids, livestock, even if you only have yourself to look after, activated carbon/charcoal is a great first stop for accidental poisoning, contaminations, a whole bunch of nasty problems. It's a lifesaver.

So is raw unhomogenised and unpasteurized milk, raw honey, rescue remedy, and 'zappings' --- an old bushie method of counteracting snake venom when you're out in the 'Woop-woops' and get bitten and have no help nor any way of getting to a doctor in time. You need a car that's pre-1980s though. You start it running, idling, take off a sparkplug, put a conductive wire in the socket, attach it to the ground (easier if you wrap it around a screwdriver and jam it in the earth, and easier if the earth's wet) and now that it's earthed, you put both hands at once on the bumper or any exposed conductive metal. Both at once because that won't hurt, whereas all the voltage going through one finger will. It's saved many lives, animal and human, from fixing toxic shock syndrome to viruses to snakebite and random poisonings and infections of all sorts. Bizarre, I know, but remember it, if you're ever dying and unable to get to the doc's in time.... I've used smaller commercial zapping units on poisoned chickens with success. Kinda like those units they use to strengthen racehorse tendons. Best wishes with your rooster.

 

[gadgetgrl]

I called Baldwin Hilltop Animal Health. He probably doesn't see chickens so he decided it wasn't worth his time to call back. Good to know about Smith, thanks for the info. He is 19 months. He was fine yesterday morning.

 

[SobbaChickens]

Smith has been updating and getting more Vets too, much nicer these days than the run down country vet I grew up with! Has your rooster had any physical changes? Like paleness

 

[gadgetgrl]

I was suspecting that he may have eaten something bad. He ate some columbine yesterday. I looked it up and it is poisonous to chickens. Thanks for the advice. Now to find some activated charcoal.

 

[gadgetgrl]

No he isn't pale. He is just like a statue. I am calling the college vet to see what the symptoms of poisoning are.

 

[chooks4life]

The symptoms of poisoning will vary according to what did the poisoning and which areas of physiology that toxin specifically harms. Your vet will be unable to give you a 100% correct diagnosis without taking a sample, or making an educated guess, for instance in this case you've seen him eating belladonna. Just off the top of my head, comatose behaviour is linked to belladonna poisoning, but if you've waited this long to do anything to treat the toxin he could be permanently damaged. Time is of the essence, I hope you flushed him with olive oil or charcoal or something. Even a zapping would have knocked the toxin on the head. Best wishes, hope you find out and treat in time. Been there...

 

[gadgetgrl]

Well My rooster has made a full recovery! We knew he was doing alot better when he woke us up a 4:30 a.m. crowing his fat head off. He was eating and drinking normal from that point on.

 

[chooks4life]

Great to hear!

Did your vet give a diagnosis, or did you treat him, any more info to share? Always good to learn more. Good for you, though, and your rooster.