I have a small Japanese Bantam Rooster that is about 4 years old. The last couple of days he has been staggering around like he is drunk. He lays around a
great deal also, but is eating.
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Staggering Rooster
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 Meija |
Staggering Rooster |
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Posts: 1 09/25/08 06:14 PM |
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HINKJC |
#1 | |||
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Posts: 1984 09/26/08 07:07 AM Moderator |
Drunk walking can be attributed to botulism or injury. At least, those are the first things that come to mind. Any chance of either of those?
Jody |
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Meija |
Staggering Rooster | #2 | ||
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Posts: 2 09/26/08 11:58 AM |
He is running loose in the barnyard with several other chickens, and none of them show any such symptoms, so I doubt the botulism. He fights through a chicken
wire fence with another rooster at times, but I cannot find any sign of an injury on him.
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calpsychik |
#3 | |||
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Posts: 1874 10/17/08 01:19 PM |
Do you feed him straight layer feed, which has too much calcium and protein for roosters? It could be a kidney disorder, which you might treat with antibiotics
and black cherries, and often shows up as the rooster ages. I mix rolled grain in with my layer feed for the roosters, and feed extra calcium supplements for
the hens to eat. Does he have access to enough food and water, or do the other roosters chase him away?
Stumbling can indicate just a regular infection, and I've treated that successfully with antibiotics before. Good luck, Cheryl |
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Meija |
Staggering Rooster | #4 | ||
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Posts: 3 10/19/08 09:44 AM |
Thank you for taking the time to reply Cheryl. He is doing fine now. The staggering and falling over backwards lasted for a couple of weeks, and then stopped
as suddenly as it started. No clue as to why it started, or stopped. I am just glad he is alright. I really appreciate your reply though.
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ape |
#5 | |||
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Posts: 1 11/23/08 09:15 AM |
I have an Ameracauna hen that began displaying similar symptoms as this rooster. She is less than a year old. A few days ago I found her on her back, belly up,
in the backyard. I thought she was dead. To my surprise, she was alive. When I turned her right side up, she staggered and sort of lurched back onto her rear.
I brought her inside and have been feeding her and giving her water (which she is ingesting just fine). Inside she just remains on her side with her legs
straight out. Would really love some advise on this!
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robin416 |
#6 | |||
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Posts: 3880 11/23/08 09:38 AM |
She's young enough that it could be Mareks. Is she eating on her own or are you having to help her?
It could be the same as the suggestions for the roo above. |
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ape |
#7 | |||
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Posts: 2 11/23/08 10:34 AM |
I have a bowl of food and water placed in front of her and she eats it on her own.
Thanks for the fast response! |
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robin416 |
#8 | |||
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Posts: 3881 11/23/08 10:39 AM |
Keep doing what you're doing. As long as she's eating and drinking on her own your support and comfy living conditions is about all that you can do
without having more info. Most of that info will have to come from her.
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ape |
#9 | |||
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Posts: 3 11/23/08 11:20 AM |
How do chickens get botulism or Marek's? My husband swears up and down that our duck (one duck living with 25 chickens) is to blame because she continually
messes up the chickens water (we have to change the water out almost daily because of this duck but the kids and I really like her). Any chance he's right?
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robin416 |
#10 | |||
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Posts: 3883 11/23/08 12:17 PM |
Yep, ducks are messy critters. That's where the contamination could come from.
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calpsychik |
#11 | |||
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Posts: 1904 11/23/08 03:14 PM |
Poultry vets tell me never to keep waterfowl and land fowl together, as waterfowl can be carriers for diseases that don't affect them, but that are
infectious to birds like chickens and turkeys. They can even carry avian flu, and be asymptomatic.
However, I don't know about botulism and Mareks. I vaccinate all of my chicks, and some hatcheries will do it, too. It's well worth the price, as what often happens is the birds develop fine, and then suddenly when they get to 5-6 months they get very ill and die. Botulism can come from rotting foods, even produce. It's best to keep that away. I know some people allow their chickens to forage in their compost bin, but I think that can be dangerous. In fact, a poultry vet told me to not even feed greens that have wilted. Good luck, Cheryl |
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ape |
#12 | |||
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Posts: 4 12/03/08 12:44 PM |
Wow! Thanks for the great information. Looks like my husband was right (dang!) about our duck living with the chickens. I have allowed my chickens to be free
range on our property since we live in the woods. It sounds as though we may need to think about building a large enclosure for their own safety. It seems like
there are just too many things they can get into that just aren't very good for them.
Where do you purchase vaccinations? Are they available through most feed stores? How do you administer the vaccinations (where on the chicken)? My chicken is still alive...no better , no worse. I have her on antibiotics and she is still eating and drinking. She can move her legs but still just lies on her side. When I try pulling her into a standing position, she leans to one side and goes down again. My husband thinks it is time to stop trying (it has been over two weeks now) but I think that as long as she is eating and drinking, we keep going. Maybe she is just faking it now that she knows what life by a cozy woodstove and being brought all her meals is like! Thanks again for the information!! |
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robin416 |
#13 | |||
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Posts: 3918 12/03/08 02:01 PM |
Have you done a good physical assessment? Checking her legs and feet for an injury or other problem?
The antibiotics are probably doing nothing for her because what we know so far this does not appear to be bacterial. If it is Mareks she might always be as she is or she could recover with time. Put her on some polyvisol childrens vitamins either in her water or give her a couple of drops in her mouth. |
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ape |
#14 | |||
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Posts: 5 12/05/08 12:30 PM |
I have checked her feet and legs. In my very novice opinion, feet and legs are fine. She might have something wrong with a hip but I don't know how to
check for that. When she is on her side, she will sometimes move both legs like she is running. Then I will pick her up into a standing position (thinking
maybe she is trying to walk) and she will lean to one side or another and go back down. Could she have some sort of inner ear problem that prevents her from
keeping her balance? May sound goofy but the way she moves looks like someone unable to keep their balance.
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Amcard14 |
Drunk Rooster | #15 | ||
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Posts: 1 09/27/09 02:17 PM |
I have a Rooster he is then a year old. he is large and today we noticed he is stumbleing around, and almost loses his balance he flaps his wings to try to
stay up. he acts odd. our hen that is with him is acting fine. peppy and happy. but is just really mellowed. we found small mold in his food. he is eating
layer feed. any help? please.
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robin416 |
#16 | |||
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Posts: 4482 09/28/09 05:39 AM |
Ape, I'm thinking it might be Mareks. To check a hip the best way to find out is to find a vet that will do an x-ray to confirm if it is the problem. Is
the bird eating and drinking?
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- General and Social Discussion
- Disease, Cures and Emergencies!
- Eggs to Hatch and Beyond
- Chicken Behaviors
- Coops and Runs
- Predators and Pests
- Poultry show and swap meet listings
- Buy ~ Sell ~ Trade ~ Giveaways
- Breeds in General
- Breeders & Backyard Hatcheries
- Meat Birds and Other Poultry
- reference material, med and disease info
- Egg & Chicken Recipes
- Notable Archives
