I just found this rooster (about 4:30 pm this afternoon) when I checked on the chickens this morning he seemed to be fine. yesterday he was great, eating, drinking and breeding. I have looked down his throat and cant see anything in his esophagus. I am having trouble looking all the way down, but I cant see any signs of worms or food. there is a lump on the outside of his neck, I can see down past where the lump is.
I have isolated him from the rest of the pen, he is on a wood floor; bedded in large poplar shavings. they have feed and water. his weight is good, and he still fights as in not wanting to be picked up. I cant hear any signs of rattle in the breathing, and there is no smell when I smell his mouth. nostrils seem clear, hearing seems to be ok but im not sure how to check it. his eyes are clear and bright. he is sometimes holding his head up side down. he is starting into molt if that changes anything. diet is: range bird pellets, cracked corn, wheat, BOSS, molasses, and oats. occasional dried meal worms, and grass; no meal worms in the past week, no grass since Friday (3 days). in the bottom picture he is in the upright position. im waiting to give any treatments, hoping someone else has encountered this and has some good information.
thanks in advance for any and all help you can give.
I have isolated him from the rest of the pen, he is on a wood floor; bedded in large poplar shavings. they have feed and water. his weight is good, and he still fights as in not wanting to be picked up. I cant hear any signs of rattle in the breathing, and there is no smell when I smell his mouth. nostrils seem clear, hearing seems to be ok but im not sure how to check it. his eyes are clear and bright. he is sometimes holding his head up side down. he is starting into molt if that changes anything. diet is: range bird pellets, cracked corn, wheat, BOSS, molasses, and oats. occasional dried meal worms, and grass; no meal worms in the past week, no grass since Friday (3 days). in the bottom picture he is in the upright position. im waiting to give any treatments, hoping someone else has encountered this and has some good information.
thanks in advance for any and all help you can give.