What's wrong with my rooster?

[Chicken15]

My relatives found a young rooster almost dead lying in the snow a couple days ago. They brought him in and took some care of him for a day, then they dropped him off at my place since I have hens of my own. I made him a place to eat/sleep inside our home. I give him constant attention but I just can't figure out what's wrong. He likes to close his eyes all the time (even after waking up from sleep) and he likes to stand up. He doesn't have the greatest balance but he refuses to sleep laying down.

I also have to hand feed him otherwise he just won't eat, and even that's a hassle. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong since I haven't raised an unhealthy bird before. He likes to drink the water I have supplied but only drinks it when it hold it up to his beak. He also never really makes any noises, he just stands there quietly and doesn't move. Also, he fluffs up his feathers and buries his neck down as if it's cold in the house. Again, I'm not exactly sure what he wants, he just seems really sick to me. It looks like he just wants to rest some more but I can't leave him like that knowing he's probably hungry and thirsty. Although he is very young and I'm not sure how much they're supposed to eat at that age. My hens are almost 3 years old and they constantly eat and drink.

Any help would be appreciated, I really want him to be healthy!

Attached is a photo of him:



After I took the photo he sort of just collapsed under his own weight, so I moved him to a place where he can lay down and rest.

 

[animallover505]

My relatives found a young rooster almost dead lying in the snow a couple days ago. They brought him in and took some care of him for a day, then they dropped him off at my place since I have hens of my own. I made him a place to eat/sleep inside our home. I give him constant attention but I just can't figure out what's wrong. He likes to close his eyes all the time (even after waking up from sleep) and he likes to stand up. He doesn't have the greatest balance but he refuses to sleep laying down.

I also have to hand feed him otherwise he just won't eat, and even that's a hassle. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong since I haven't raised an unhealthy bird before. He likes to drink the water I have supplied but only drinks it when it hold it up to his beak. He also never really makes any noises, he just stands there quietly and doesn't move. Also, he fluffs up his feathers and buries his neck down as if it's cold in the house. Again, I'm not exactly sure what he wants, he just seems really sick to me. It looks like he just wants to rest some more but I can't leave him like that knowing he's probably hungry and thirsty. Although he is very young and I'm not sure how much they're supposed to eat at that age. My hens are almost 3 years old and they constantly eat and drink.

Any help would be appreciated, I really want him to be healthy!

Attached is a photo of him:



After I took the photo he sort of just collapsed under his own weight, so I moved him to a place where he can lay down and rest.

he's so handsome!! Chickens naturally sleep roosting, so give him something off of the ground to sleep on. Not high, just a couple of inches.

 

[Chicken15]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. Yeah he is a good looking bird indeed! I just can't stand seeing him like this.

So a perch is a good idea? I have those for my other hens and they love it. I'll see if I can find the materials to build one for him.

 

[animallover505]

Wow, thanks for the quick reply. Yeah he is a good looking bird indeed! I just can't stand seeing him like this.

So a perch is a good idea? I have those for my other hens and they love it. I'll see if I can find the materials to build one for him.

just a few inches of the ground, yes. I'm looking through my chicken health handbook and don't see much. Do you have a Tractor Supply or anything like that nearby? He needs some electrolytes. Try feeding him a little yogurt, too. Just find a treat he likes, and at least he'll be eating SOMETHING.

 

[dufusanddingus]

Sounds like he may be super tired, possibly malnourished, or maybe has a disease. I know that's a pretty broad statement and maybe not very helpful, but the point is that I would continue to keep him separated from the rest of your flock until he acts normal. I would dote on him with electrolytes in the water, or a tad of apple cider vinegar, and give him a protein rich food such as warm scrambled eggs to help him regain his strength. My birds also really love uncooked quick oats, blueberries, and whole wheat tortillas, and I offer these items to all my birds for the occasional treat but especially to sick chickens to encourage them to eat something when they might not otherwise, and I think it gives them an immune boost.

 

[animallover505]

Sounds like he may be super tired, possibly malnourished, or maybe has a disease. I know that's a pretty broad statement and maybe not very helpful, but the point is that I would continue to keep him separated from the rest of your flock until he acts normal. I would dote on him with electrolytes in the water, or a tad of apple cider vinegar, and give him a protein rich food such as warm scrambled eggs to help him regain his strength. My birds also really love uncooked quick oats, blueberries, and whole wheat tortillas, and I offer these items to all my birds for the occasional treat but especially to sick chickens to encourage them to eat something when they might not otherwise, and I think it gives them an immune boost.

I didn't even think about scrambled eggs! My hens love those! They also love venison, or really any kind of meat.

 

[Chicken15]

The nearest chicken supply store is about a half hour drive. I'm currently building him a perch a few inches above the ground as you said, I'm still worried about him falling off though. I have yet to see him walk, so I'm not sure how well his legs can hold up. I am definitely keeping him away from the hens until he seems healthy enough to meet them. What type of electrolytes can I put in the water? The only feed I have is layer pellets which is what I've been feeding him but I've also tried a few other types of foods. I'll actually see if he likes oat meal next. The hardest part is that he can't bend down to eat/drink without falling over. So I have to hand feed him everything, and even then it's hard to get him to consider it. I'll try scrambled eggs if all else fails, and anything else I can find that he may like.

Thanks for the help!

 

[animallover505]

The nearest chicken supply store is about a half hour drive. I'm currently building him a perch a few inches above the ground as you said, I'm still worried about him falling off though. I have yet to see him walk, so I'm not sure how well his legs can hold up. I am definitely keeping him away from the hens until he seems healthy enough to meet them. What type of electrolytes can I put in the water? The only feed I have is layer pellets which is what I've been feeding him but I've also tried a few other types of foods. I'll actually see if he likes oat meal next. The hardest part is that he can't bend down to eat/drink without falling over. So I have to hand feed him everything, and even then it's hard to get him to consider it. I'll try scrambled eggs if all else fails, and anything else I can find that he may like.

Thanks for the help!

try raising the feeder off the ground so that he doesn't have to bend over so far. And check his toes for frostbite, just in case.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Hopefully, hopefully malnutrition/dehydration is all this bird has! But I kind of doubt it with his behavior. I really kind of cringe when I see somebody take on a new, sick bird from unknown background. I would be very concerned if I were you about the potential to spread disease from this bird to the rest of your flock. Many poultry diseases are highly contagious, they can spread on the air, on your clothes and shoes, even on your hair. You have the potential to carry disease to your other birds even though this bird is not kept with them at the moment. Ture quarantine is not the same as simply being separate. Even if he recovers, you don't know what's wrong with him and with many diseases the sick bird remains a carrier even after it has recovered and can infect other birds. I don't mean to sound so negative, I really don't, but we've been down that road and once you get a disease, especially respiratory, in your coop, it just seems like you can never really get rid of it.

 

[De Wet]

My relatives found a young rooster almost dead lying in the snow a couple days ago. They brought him in and took some care of him for a day, then they dropped him off at my place since I have hens of my own. I made him a place to eat/sleep inside our home. I give him constant attention but I just can't figure out what's wrong. He likes to close his eyes all the time (even after waking up from sleep) and he likes to stand up. He doesn't have the greatest balance but he refuses to sleep laying down. I also have to hand feed him otherwise he just won't eat, and even that's a hassle. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong since I haven't raised an unhealthy bird before. He likes to drink the water I have supplied but only drinks it when it hold it up to his beak. He also never really makes any noises, he just stands there quietly and doesn't move. Also, he fluffs up his feathers and buries his neck down as if it's cold in the house. Again, I'm not exactly sure what he wants, he just seems really sick to me. It looks like he just wants to rest some more but I can't leave him like that knowing he's probably hungry and thirsty. Although he is very young and I'm not sure how much they're supposed to eat at that age. My hens are almost 3 years old and they constantly eat and drink. Any help would be appreciated, I really want him to be healthy! Attached is a photo of him: After I took the photo he sort of just collapsed under his own weight, so I moved him to a place where he can lay down and rest.

inject ,5mm cc injecteble tyramycin just below the eye in the sinus the bird will be fine