Rooster lost his voice

[Artchickenlover21]

Might anyone know what's wrong with our rooster? He looks normal and healthy on the outside but lost his voice a week or two ago and now sounds like he has bad laryngitis. He hasn't crowed in a while either.

The coop our chickens are in doesn't have good ventilation but we can't afford to buy/build a new one yet. I don't know if it might be because of that, dust, something he ate, etc. None of the hens are having this problem.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Do they spend a lot of time in the coop? The rooster would feel I'll effects from poor ventilation faster then hens because he breathes I'm deeper when he crows.

Can you add more ventilation to the existing coop?

 

[Artchickenlover21]

Do they spend a lot of time in the coop? The rooster would feel I'll effects from poor ventilation faster then hens because he breathes I'm deeper when he crows.

Can you add more ventilation to the existing coop?

During summer they seem to be out most the day, but in winter and fall they stay in all day almost every day.
I don't know if I can because of the way it's built, it's not even a real coop but a shed attached to our barn turned into a coop. I think there are boards near the top I can remove and replace with chicken wire but that's pretty much it.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Can you post pictures? I can tag 3killlerbs for good ideas for ventilation

 

[Myrshine]

Have you looked into his mouth to see if there are any sores or obstructions that could be presenting him from making noise? I’d also check his crop to make sure that it’s emptying properly and check to make sure that it’s not sour crop either. Respiratory infections— mild or severe— can cause birds to lose their voice due to swelling of their trachea, sinus cavities or mucus. High amounts of ammonia in your birds’ coop can cause respiratory, feet and eye issues in birds. Make sure that your coop has enough ventilation and is cleaned often.

 

[Artchickenlover21]

Have you looked into his mouth to see if there are any sores or obstructions that could be presenting him from making noise? I’d also check his crop to make sure that it’s emptying properly and check to make sure that it’s not sour crop either. Respiratory infections— mild or severe— can cause birds to lose their voice due to swelling of their trachea, sinus cavities or mucus. High amounts of ammonia in your birds’ coop can cause respiratory, feet and eye issues in birds. Make sure that your coop has enough ventilation and is cleaned often.

I haven't checked his mouth. How do I check his crop? I'm new to chicken health stuff.

 

[Artchickenlover21]

Can you post pictures? I can tag 3killlerbs for good ideas for ventilation

I hope these are helpful. The coop is part of the barn and an old shed, separated from both by walls. I'm pretty sure the whole building is chock full of mold and toxic dust, but we try our best to clean the part the chickens are staying in. It's probably caused our older flocks to get sick and die which would happen a lot.

The beams you see near the ceiling are where the chickens perch. Zero ventilation other than the windows.

I need a temporary solution for ventilation while I nag my father to help me build a coop (he's a huge procrastinator if there isn't an immediate emergency and I'm not capable of building an entire coop by myself). I'm confident I can tear some of those old boards out and replace them with chicken wire, but unfortunately only on the side where the window is. The whole thing sucks but that's why I need advice.

 

[Artchickenlover21]

Have you looked into his mouth to see if there are any sores or obstructions that could be presenting him from making noise? I’d also check his crop to make sure that it’s emptying properly and check to make sure that it’s not sour crop either. Respiratory infections— mild or severe— can cause birds to lose their voice due to swelling of their trachea, sinus cavities or mucus. High amounts of ammonia in your birds’ coop can cause respiratory, feet and eye issues in birds. Make sure that your coop has enough ventilation and is cleaned often.

An update also, my rooster's comb and face has grown pale and he's acting slower and more lethargic.

 

[SmiYa0126]

@3KillerBs any of advice on how to improve ventilation here?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Can you feed him some raw yolk and nutri drench? Also, do you have vetricyn?