Young Rooster, pale comb, lethargic

[Freerangefather]

Hello, I have an 18 week old Welsummer Rooster. He is developing well, found his crow in the last two weeks and began chasing and trying to mount his hens as well. In the last few days I noticed a behavior and appearance change. His comb and wattles appear pale and dry not glossy and deep red. His behaviors has become lethargic. He still eats and drinks (I added electrolytes to his water yesterday) walks around with his ladies but has not crowed in days, is not mounting hens or chasing. He does not seem to want to run. Every once in a while it appears like he has a slight hitch in his step like he is a tad bit unbalanced. Anyways yesterday I thought it was the heat and dehydration but after 24 hours if fresh water with electrolyte and cooler temps there is no change. I feed a mix of 15% and 20% protein mix feed. They free range all day and lately I have been treating them with wormy corn ears and large squash and zucchini gits and seeds. I saw him poop yesterday and it looked fairly normal but sort of green and watery with zucchini seed chunks. One last thing, I did pick him up yesterday and do a skin check for mites/lice on his back but saw none. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is the OP’s newer thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/young-rooster-anemic-cant-walk-dying.1407460/

I would stick with this original thread about this particular rooster and his problems for clarity, rather that starting a new tread each day. I’m not being snotty, but those that have answered your thread will look for your knew posts since it comes to the top of the forum again.

Sorry that your rooster is suffering from mites. Permethrin spray or Elector PSP are both good products to use. Treat him every 7 days any where you see the mites. Ivermectin would be good as well as is seen in the link above. He also could be showing early signs of Mareks disease. Was he vaccinated?

 

[LaFleche]

He looks anaemic to me. Did you already check the coop for poultry mites, the bloodsucking kind?

How does his poop look and feel his crop in the evening and in the morning right before feeding time.

 

[Freerangefather]

I think you are right he is anemic. I just checked him again and found mites on him. Now I at least know what I'm fighting. What is the best way to treat my flock/coop?

 

[LaFleche]

There are quite a lot of products to choose from (natural and chemical insecticides). Depending on where you live in some countries some of the elsewhere used products are not or no longer labelled for use on poultry/chickens.

Here is some reading and recommendations how to go about:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rom-poultry-lice.1403372/page-9#post-23070779

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello, I have an 18 week old His comb and wattles appear pale and dry not glossy and deep red. His behaviors has become lethargic. He still eats and drinks he has a slight hitch in his step like he is a tad bit unbalanced. I feed a mix of 15% and 20% protein mix feed.

After posting here yesterday about a young rooster that was acting lethargic with a pale comb I ended up finding a few mites on his comb so I went and cleaned the coop, sprayed permethrin inside the coop and shook chicken dust premethrin on his rump. I had been offering water with electrolytes for the past two days and beet greens and swiss chard. I went out and found him upside down in one of the nest boxes.

I'm wondering about the underlying health issues... It would make sense because he had such a rapid decline. It did look like he maybe had a stroke or seizure.

Please post some photos of the cockerel and his poop.
Was he vaccinated for Marek's?
What is the mix of feed you are giving ----layer plus all flock or ? Photos of the feed bags?
How long have you had him?
Do you have any other cockerels?

I would dust him under the wings, at the base of his neck as well, not just his rump.

Any chance that he ate anything moldy (feed, compost, etc.), rotten or spoiled, something dead or a toxin (antifreeze spill, oils, etc.).

What's his crop like?
I would try to get him hydrated and give him poultry vitamins containing Vitamin E and B1.

Keep us posted.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You're right, I should've posted in the same thread. He is dead now anyhow.

Sorry to hear your rooster died.

 

[Eggcessive]

Very sorry for your loss. If possible I would keep his body cold, and send it to your state poultry vet tomorrow morning for a necropsy. Here is a list of state vets to contact one near you:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[Avian Allie]

It’s a long shot, but a shot of vitamin b could help. Give him crumbles( regular feed) if he wants them, make sure he has water, and try and keep him warm. If the mites have depleted him so much then he will have bad temperature control. Also, mites might have attacked because he has an underlying health problem and they just grabbed him because he was already weakened, as you said. I wonder if he is having seizures or a stroke?

 

[Eggcessive]

It would be best to stick with one thread, so that there is ease lf knowing what each person has recommended so far. Your original thread is here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/young-rooster-pale-comb-lethargic.1407181/