Nightmare, Jumping, and Gasping

[Sleek]

I have this one and a half years old white leghorn Rooster, named Shaggy. I think he's more or less 2.5 kg.

About last year I hear him jumping in his coop during the night. He's very energetic so I think it's just chasing some insect. But around two nights ago, it's happening really violently. I checked on him and I saw him jumping then raising this head and fall asleep. I tried waking him up but he didn't respond. I took him, then he woke up. The next night, it didn't happen, so I think it's now okay.

Then tonight it happened again! I took him and he didn't respond. And in my surprise, his comb and wattle are all purple!! It's very dark as if everything is a near color of a comb with frostbite. That's when I started to panic. His feet are moving but I think he's unconscious. I started shaking and pumping his back and body but nothing happened. I ran onto the faucet then started wetting his comb, and giving him water to drink. IDK why I did that. Maybe because that's what I saw when you try waking up someone forcibly. His eyes opened and his wattle and comb turned to normal red as I wet his head all over. I gave him a nice towel rub and hug, then he started to respond his usual "koo kook koo koo" breathes normally, and walked as if nothing has happened. He's eating right now and I'm still worried it happened again while I'm sleeping (

What is going on? Does anyone encounter this?

 

[Bamabexchicks]

I have this one and a half years old white leghorn Rooster, named Shaggy. I think he's more or less 2.5 kg.

About last year I hear him jumping in his coop during the night. He's very energetic so I think it's just chasing some insect. But around two nights ago, it's happening really violently. I checked on him and I saw him jumping then raising this head and fall asleep. I tried waking him up but he didn't respond. I took him, then he woke up. The next night, it didn't happen, so I think it's now okay.

Then tonight it happened again! I took him and he didn't respond. And in my surprise, his comb and wattle are all purple!! It's very dark as if everything is a near color of a comb with frostbite. That's when I started to panic. His feet are moving but I think he's unconscious. I started shaking and pumping his back and body but nothing happened. I ran onto the faucet then started wetting his comb, and giving him water to drink. IDK why I did that. Maybe because that's what I saw when you try waking up someone forcibly. His eyes opened and his wattle and comb turned to normal red as I wet his head all over. I gave him a nice towel rub and hug, then he started to respond his usual "koo kook koo koo" breathes normally, and walked as if nothing has happened. He's eating right now and I'm still worried it happened again while I'm sleeping (

What is going on? Does anyone encounter this?

@casportpony ,@azygous ,@Eggcessive ,@Wyorp Rock

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Where are you located? (State/Country)?
What's your weather like?

Does he wear a No Crow collar?

It's very hard to know what's going on with him. The comb turning purple would indicate lack of oxygen. Could be heart problems or possibly he's having seizures unless he's choking on something.

Have you introduced any new birds to your flock within the last 30 days?

 

[Sleek]

Where are you located? (State/Country)?
What's your weather like?

Does he wear a No Crow collar?

It's very hard to know what's going on with him. The comb turning purple would indicate lack of oxygen. Could be heart problems or possibly he's having seizures unless he's choking on something.

Have you introduced any new birds to your flock within the last 30 days?

I live in a tropical city. It’s around 27-30°C during night time. This only happens during night time. On mornings he’s a normal happy rooster. He’s not wearing any no crow collar. And there are no new ones in the flock. But recently I changed a pellet brand. Normally the old brand approximate size is about 3mm per pellet, now it’s like 5-7mm. Is it possible that he chokes while sleeping? The others are not doing that though.

 

[azygous]

I will relate my experience with a Wyandotte rooster that was prone to the same scary behavior.

The first time I saw this happen, I was just putting my chickens into the coop when he flapped his wings madly and fell off his perch. I grabbed him up, and like you, I panicked, not knowing what to do. He wasn't breathing and his comb was dark. I shook him and he regained consciousness.

Like a human with heart problems, the heart can stop, plunging the victim into a near death experience. A sudden shock or normal movement can start the heart pumping again. I gave my rooster a half a baby aspirin daily for a few months, and when nothing like that episode happened again, I stopped the aspirin. A few months later, I found him dead one morning under his perch.

I don't know for sure what his problem was. But some chickens hatch with genetic defects, and it's likely he had a heart with a congenital defect. Your rooster may also have such a defect.

 

[chickens really]

That's called night terrors and all birds can have them. My cockatiel has them also every so often..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I live in a tropical city. It’s around 27-30°C during night time. This only happens during night time. On mornings he’s a normal happy rooster. He’s not wearing any no crow collar. And there are no new ones in the flock. But recently I changed a pellet brand. Normally the old brand approximate size is about 3mm per pellet, now it’s like 5-7mm. Is it possible that he chokes while sleeping? The others are not doing that though.

I don't think he would be choking on feed, but it might be worth looking inside his beak if he has another episode.

 

[Sleek]

I will relate my experience with a Wyandotte rooster that was prone to the same scary behavior.

The first time I saw this happen, I was just putting my chickens into the coop when he flapped his wings madly and fell off his perch. I grabbed him up, and like you, I panicked, not knowing what to do. He wasn't breathing and his comb was dark. I shook him and he regained consciousness.

Like a human with heart problems, the heart can stop, plunging the victim into a near death experience. A sudden shock or normal movement can start the heart pumping again. I gave my rooster a half a baby aspirin daily for a few months, and when nothing like that episode happened again, I stopped the aspirin. A few months later, I found him dead one morning under his perch.

I don't know for sure what his problem was. But some chickens hatch with genetic defects, and it's likely he had a heart with a congenital defect. Your rooster may also have such a defect.

I’m so sorry that happened. That was the first thing that I thought too. When I picked Shaggy, I can feel his pulse and he's breathing but unconscious. And his feet’s seems running. He didn’t flap his wings. But then that’s just maybe his way. Here’s what he looked like when he gained consciousness. Some part of his comb is still dark. He didn’t crow this morning. I think he didn’t slept well.

 

[Sleek]

Oh he just crowed when I posted that hehe.

 

[Sleek]

That's called night terrors and all birds can have them. My cockatiel has them also every so often..

Really? How’s your bird doing today?