Sick cockerel

[elmdene]

Yesterday morning I noticed that Dumpling's poos were quite watery and green and was surprised he was still upstairs when I went out to see him in the morning. He seemed fine in the late afternoon when I let him out though and was following me everywhere, chuntering away, as he does. Today however, he seems pretty bad. Whereas he would normally rush out to greet me, let me know who's boss and then and find me some food, he's sitting in his dust bath looking very forlorn and sorry for himself. His poo is a combination of solid with very bright green liquid. His comb is floppy and has gone a dark colour towards the back where it is quite cold to the touch. His crop is also quite full for this time of day - I've tried massaging it and it's quite squishy but no noticeable odour. He has been eating a lot of apples recently.
He is a one year old pekin who I have been trying, without success so far, to rehome, as he's all by himself in his coop because he fights with our other cockerel. But to be honest, he's such a little character and we adore him so are thinking of getting him a hen of his own. I have an appointment at the vet this evening but just wondered if anyone could shed any light or most importantly, advise me on what to do. I just going to give him some olive oil and massage his crop, but it seems a bit more serious than that. Added to all this, I am going away for 4 days tomorrow so he is in the hands of the neighbours - always the way...

 

[Marigold]

Hi Elmdene, sorry to hear he's not well. I think your visit to the vet. Is a good idea, please let us know what he says. Its possibly a gut upset, but the dark colour comb might be something else, instead of/as well as, maybe a heart problem? Any chance that he's eaten anything poisonous, eg nightshade, which could affect his heart?
If and when he is restored to health, which I hope will be soon, it would be good either to re home him or to give him some company, as you suggest. But he would need 3 or 4 hens though, as with only one the poor girl would get worn and sore on her back from constant mating. And 4-6 more birds do take up space of course.

 

[foxy]

I am sorry to hear your little cockerel is poorly, it is horrid when a favourite is unwell

He does sound quite poorly, with the vivid green droppings, slow gut and his comb. It is hard to tell sometimes what is wrong but the combination of symptoms you describe is not good. The vet will have a better idea when he has a look at him. Good luck at the vets

 

[elmdene]

Thank you Marigold and Foxy.
Very sadly, Dumpling died on the way home from the vets. He was visibly deteriorating while we were there with his comb going blue as we watched. She thought it could be cocci or possibly a bad gut infection and that either could be putting him in shock and bringing on multiple organ failure - hence the poor circulation in his comb. She said she could put him to sleep but he didn't seem to be in pain and if he were hers she would give him a chance and see what he was like tomorrow. So she gave him an antibiotic injection and also injected subcutaneous fluids (she said with any other animal they would put it on a drip but this was obviously impossible). They didn't have the cocci medication there but said I could try to get some coxoid in him once I got him home and settled, if he lasted that long, which obviously he didn't.
I can't believe how quickly he went. This time yesterday he was sitting on my leg grooming himself. He was such a character and I'm convinced he thought I was his hen! He would come hurtling across the garden when I called his name, not just for food like the others do, but just for the company. He would just hang out with us in the evenings when we were having a drink in the garden and his speciality was pecking our guests toes. The weird thing was that having tried all summer to re-home him (as we already have another household of chickens) we had just decided last night that as he was so special, we would keep him. We even went this morning to look for an ad for a pekin hen I had seen. It's amazing how these little creatures just worm their way into your heart.
Now we just have to be really careful in case it was something contagious that the others don't get it.

 

[elmdene]

I should also add, just for information, that I did treat Dumpling and his brother for cocci when they were younger - I assumed this was what it was as they had blood in their poo. I've just been reading the chicken poo thread which says previous cases of cocci could cause permanent damage to the gut leading to possible inflammation later (I think).

 

[Marigold]

I'm so sorry to hear this, Elmdene. It must be very hard for you, when he was such a lovely boy.
At least you are spared the worry of going away for a few days, leaving him still poorly in someone else's care. And although it must have been terrible for you to see him going downhill so fast, at least his illness wasn't a long-drawn-out one.
He was very lucky to have had such a lovely home for his short life.

 

[foxy]

Really sorry to hear this Elmdene..Dumpling sounded like a real character...

 

[Icemaiden]

Hi Elmdene.
So sorry to hear about poor Dumpling; I can imagine how upset you must be.
He was clearly blessed to have lived out his life with you, & I'm sure he'll live on in your memories. It's ironic how he waited until you decided to keep him...

I hope the rest of your flock will lift your spirits.
All the best,
Icemaiden.

 

[elmdene]

Thanks to everyone for your kind messages. It seems very quiet in the garden now with just my original trio. This is such a brilliant forum for help and information - thank you.