URGENT! Rooster is NOT improving!

[ab1820]

Long story short -> I have an indoor Rooster (Chicken Little), aged 1.5 years. Never around the outside chickens. He gets normal chicken feed, scrambled eggs, peas, meat, bread, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, a wide variety of healthy foods for chickens. His comb and wattles are perfect, and always bright red.
About 4 months ago he began acting strange, and stopped crowing.
Symptoms are:

• Hunched in neck (NOT Wry Neck) and will NOT extend his neck, ever. I can if I do it for him but he wont.
• Lack of appetite, I have to force-feed him or he doesn't eat
• Serious scratching of head -> uncontrollably, uses both feet and will fall over, he cant seem to stop scratching
• Cradle cap type skin all over his head (thick, oily) and flaky dry skin constantly on face
• Loss of balance, cannot jump onto furniture anymore, uses wings to balance, and keeps along walls
• Weak
• Lethargic, sleeps all day and all night
• Light/Dark green poops. Mostly solids.
• Does not crow anymore

What I have done to help him:

• Taken to Vets, they could not figure it out.
• He has been on Vitamins and Electrolytes this entire time prescribed by the Vets
• He has take 2 weeks of bacterial antibiotics
• He has taken ear drops incase of ear infection
• He has taken pain meds
• He has taken antifungal meds
• Vets checked his droppings, and absolutely no parasites inside or outside.
• Vaseline to help with the dry skin (does not stop his scratching).

I am just at a complete loss. Our vet has even contacted other vets for help, and no one can seem to figure this out. It is NOT Marecks, or Wry Neck, or Coccidiosis, no respitory infection he has perfect and clear breathing, no bubbles in his eyes, no swelling of anything, or lack of vitamins.

He is beyond loved by our family, he is our pet. (Rejected by the other chickens when he hatched).

I am looking for some hope in that maybe someone on here has had a chicken/rooster with the same issues that has improved and went back to normal.

I am attaching pictures of before and now of him as well. He used to be normal, and I am so heartbroken and just lost at what in the world this could be, because I have searched to the ends of Google and back with no answers.

First 2 pictures are of before, when he was perfect. The last 4 are of him now. EDIT: The lump you see next to his head is his neck. He has no tumors or lumps.

Any tips/advice will help, please please please!

 

[Isabella7Storm5]

Long story short -> I have an indoor Rooster (Chicken Little), aged 1.5 years. Never around the outside chickens. He gets normal chicken feed, scrambled eggs, peas, meat, bread, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, a wide variety of healthy foods for chickens. His comb and wattles are perfect, and always bright red.
About 4 months ago he began acting strange, and stopped crowing.
Symptoms are:

• Hunched in neck (NOT Wry Neck) and will NOT extend his neck, ever. I can if I do it for him but he wont.
• Lack of appetite, I have to force-feed him or he doesn't eat
• Serious scratching of head -> uncontrollably, uses both feet and will fall over, he cant seem to stop scratching
• Cradle cap type skin all over his head (thick, oily) and flaky dry skin constantly on face
• Loss of balance, cannot jump onto furniture anymore, uses wings to balance, and keeps along walls
• Weak
• Lethargic, sleeps all day and all night
• Light/Dark green poops. Mostly solids.
• Does not crow anymore

What I have done to help him:

• Taken to Vets, they could not figure it out.
• He has been on Vitamins and Electrolytes this entire time prescribed by the Vets
• He has take 2 weeks of bacterial antibiotics
• He has taken ear drops incase of ear infection
• He has taken pain meds
• He has taken antifungal meds
• Vets checked his droppings, and absolutely no parasites inside or outside.
• Vaseline to help with the dry skin (does not stop his scratching).

I am just at a complete loss. Our vet has even contacted other vets for help, and no one can seem to figure this out. It is NOT Marecks, or Wry Neck, or Coccidiosis, no respitory infection he has perfect and clear breathing, no bubbles in his eyes, no swelling of anything, or lack of vitamins.

He is beyond loved by our family, he is our pet. (Rejected by the other chickens when he hatched).

I am looking for some hope in that maybe someone on here has had a chicken/rooster with the same issues that has improved and went back to normal.

I am attaching pictures of before and now of him as well. He used to be normal, and I am so heartbroken and just lost at what in the world this could be, because I have searched to the ends of Google and back with no answers.

First 2 pictures are of before, when he was perfect. The last 4 are of him now. EDIT: The lump you see next to his head is his neck. He has no tumors or lumps.

Any tips/advice will help, please please please!

he's so hansom! I dont have a clue what it could be but i wish you all the luck in the world. I hope he gets better

 

[LaFleche]

Did the vets already check him for dislocation of his cervical spine?

How many hours per day does he spend outside the house?

If kept indoors only, he might be suffering from severe vitamin D deficiency caused by lack of sunlight.
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultr...ement-poultry/vitamin-deficiencies-in-poultry

 

[nuthatched]

What's the normal chicken feed and 'healthy treats for chickens ' and how often dies he get these treats?

 

[ab1820]

Did the vets already check him for dislocation of his cervical spine?

How many hours per day does he spend outside the house?

If kept indoors only, he might be suffering from severe vitamin D deficiency caused by lack of sunlight.
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/poultr...ement-poultry/vitamin-deficiencies-in-poultry

There is no dislocation, and he gets plenty of vitamin D with the vitamins I give him, and I take him outside on supervised walks or dust baths.

 

[LaFleche]

Are there poisonous critters around like snakes or spiders or other insects?

 

[ab1820]

Are there poisonous critters around like snakes or spiders or other insects?

No, we live far North in Canada, and no kind of critters like that are allowed in my house lol

 

[Fulford]

Hi, if it’s ‘ cradle cap’ candida then that needs dealing with. It sounds like it’s now affecting his whole system. I know you have tried anti fungal meds but this, if you haven’t is very worth a try.

(Can your vet, or a different vet, get a sample of cradle cap analyzed? This would be very helpful.) Candida and other type fungi can cause all the symptoms he has. If vet knows what they are dealing with, they can look into systemic effects and specifically targeted medical prescription.

What you can do right now:

1. Do not feed treats. Nothing with sugar (fruit etc.) Be careful not to over vitamin too.
Double check everything he eats/pecks at.
No avocado, no garlic! Etc

Can try some chicken probiotics(NO added vitamins or electrolytes ).

2. Apple cider vinegar in water if not doing already. Couple tablespoons per litre to start.

3. Fungistat for Birds (Nystatin). Taken orally. As I understand, it needs to have physical Contact with fungus internally.

4. Pomegranate PEEL powder in food. (Small amount mixed in.) once every couple days for now(normally once a week or two)

*****Treat his external issue immediately!
You will need:
Mild pet shampoo or equivalent.
Cotton balls
Eye dropper
* “Thieves Oil” * (key)
Carrier oil (calendula, grape seed or canola)

1st bathe him with mild pet shampoo like Veterycin pet shampo. Or something very mild. Careful!! of eyes and not having water in his nose/nares/beak so doesn’t aspirate. Wash head (rinse). Hard to do, can use soaked cotton balls.

Treat head area:
** Using a small soft art paint brush (gets between feathers and all around comb ) ‘paint’ on (careful not to get in eyes!):
Use “Thieves Oil” (any brand, recommend Marseille) (The ingredient cinnamon bark oil is imperative).
Amount: ONLY 1 drop per 20 drops carrier oil(not less!). I recommend using calendula. (Do not add extra drops! It’s very potent.)

If it’s a fungus/candida you will see improvement very soon! A few days.

Repeat oil treatment every 2-3 days then every 4 days, then once a week.

Could also alternatively bathe him with 2% Chlorhexadine/Ketaconaxole/Aloe pet shampoo but again, careful with head/ eyes of course.

Hope this may help.