poorly silkie cockerel-help please

Fat Hen · « **on:** May 31, 2007, 09:27 »

Hi i'm worried about eddie my silkie cockerel. He was ok early eve yesterday but went unusually early to bed. And when I went to let them out this morning he won't come out & is very subdued.

I picked him up and he looks physically ok. But when I put him down he just stands there. Beak slightly open, quiet no rosey. And then he goes back inside.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2007, 12:09 »

Does he have a raised temperature ? Feel under his wing near the joint. Compare it to a healthy hen's.

If he feels hot then he has an infection which may require antibiotics.

Is he eating/drinking ?

Any signs of injury ?

Is he pooing ? If he is what are they like ?

alan42 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2007, 13:23 »

how old is it, have you put new hens in recently is there another cock in his run?
alan

Fat Hen · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2007, 17:10 »

He is off his food. Not drinking, i'm giving him water with a sryinge. His poo is very pale coloured & sloppy.

I have recently given him a little active youghurt. I think he has a raised temp. Under his beak he is slightly red in colour where normally his skin is black.

I'm sure my other two hens know he is not well as they have been huddled up to him a lot today. They both look healthy and are otherwise behaving normally.

This has come on extremely quickly at 6 pm yesterday he was ok active eating and his usual cheeky self. By 7 pm he had taken himself off to bed the hens still out till 9.

Fat Hen · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2007, 17:12 »

Quote from: "alan42"

how old is it, have you put new hens in recently is there another cock in his run?
alan

Sorry, no new hens. He's about 6 months old. Only found out he was a cockerel last week when he crowd for first time.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2007, 17:15 »

I think he has an infection. He needs some antibiotics if you want to save him :cry:

Fat Hen · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2007, 19:23 »

He is booked in for the vet tommorrow morning before work. Luckily our local vet will treat chickens sometimes. Keeping our fingers crossed for him.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2007, 20:30 »

Make sure he gets water before bedtime

Fat Hen · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2007, 20:41 »

Quote from: "Aunt Sally"

Make sure he gets water before bedtime

Just given him his bedtime drinkies (approx 25ml water from syringe) looking very forlorn in the hen house all alone. The other hens (who seemed so supportive during the day) have deserted him to go on a foraging spree before bedtime.

Don't know if its wishful thinking but he may look a bit better! Hope.

Fat Hen · « **Reply #9 on:** June 01, 2007, 09:24 »

Eddie has been to the vets this am. He (the vet) has given him a general antibiotic, says he's in good condition generally.

A bit of an impacted crop (small hard lump)- can too much cabbage cause this? Apart from grass, chicken corn & pellets thats all he's eaten.

Anyway told to collect poo over a few days & he'll send it off for analysis otherwise nothing to put your finger on.

I'm still giving him water from a syringe and some live yoghurt with a couple of drops olive oil in it.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2007, 10:41 »

Crop impaction can be caused by eating tough fibrous material, long cause grass and hay are the most frequent offenders.

Hope he perks up today

alan42 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2007, 17:03 »

well done for your prompt action.
alan

Fat Hen · « **Reply #12 on:** June 01, 2007, 17:05 »

He seems a little better checked on him when I got home from work he was in the house alone so I hauled him out to get some water in him and massage the area of the crop, feels empty.

Since then he has eaten a little and tried to have his wicked way with polly, much to daisy's dismay she's really tartin up to him.

We don't have hay i've read on this site that it can cause problems, I do use some straw for nesting and wood shavings in their house. They've eaten all my "lawn" down to stubble/bare earth.

I've recently put wood shavings in their pen I read somewhere here is was good and I hang a cabbage up daily when i get home from work.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2007, 17:07 »

He sounds as if you have him back

Did the vet give a course of antibiotic or just a single injection :?:

Fat Hen · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2007, 17:18 »

Just a single injection. And said I should collect his poo over a three day period so he can send it off for analysis if needed.

Yes I hope so he would be sorely missed by everyone, was a little peturbed when we found that he was a cockerel and that he might have to be rehomed but I gave him a serious talking to (that and I keep him in the hen house till a reasonable hour) and hes been really good and resisted his urge to crow.

By the way on the subject of crowing is it like normal birdsong mainly prevelent in spring or is it an all year round thing.

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