Young roo acting strangely

[marmaset]

I have a 5mth old Silkie roo that is not behaving normally. He has been a little stumbly and I put it down to his leg muscles still growing. He seems to come good for a while but he looks like he is trying to poo or lay an egg but nothing comes out so he continues on his way. He does not have a dirty bum or smell. I picked him up and felt all around his rear end and it is all very hard like he is compacted, but maybe its just his bone structure. His legs quiver when I touch him under his belly. He is in a pen with two other hens and 4 chicks but does get picked on. He was recently with another roo (his brother) till I realized he was not the alpha Roo. He gets mixed grain and greens to eat, the same as the others. Should I give him a dose of epsom salts??? Any suggestions would be helpful.Thanks.

 

[LittleFalcon]

I am not sure, maybe a chicken safe laxative if he feel constipated or compacted?

 

[marmaset]

Thank you. I don't know if he is compacted or not, only guessing. Do chooks have a hard bone all around there bum area? Would a laxative do him any harm.

 

[LittleFalcon]

I think there are chicken safe laxatives if not the internet is your best friend in seeing if human ones are ok. I honestly don't know about the hardness. I used to have silkies but I never had anything like that

 

[marmaset]

I'll keep him separated from his friends in the same pen. he seems happy enough and eating well, although I don't see him drinking much, if at all. Maybe squirt a bit of water down his throat occasionally. May be a neurological problem, or an injury from when his macho brother was in the same pen. Not every creature is made perfectly. Thanks anyway.

 

[marmaset]

To anybody reading this post, I wanted to let you know he survived by keeping him isolated away from the flock. He ended up being a real gentleman to his girls which I found nice considering the other Roos I have had have been quite boisterious. Just needed to strengthen his leg muscles.