What happened?

[ArtJuice]

Today I was going to feed my chickens when my birchen cochin bantam rooster (named "Stormy") was laying on his side nearly out of my view, next to the wall of the coop. I thought he was dead but when I went to pick him up with a trash bag he was still alive, just seemingly weak. He couldn't stand up, kept closing his eyes, and didn't want to keep his head up (he showed that he was able to for a few occasions). it felt like something was wrong with his neck and he seemingly didn't have a crop? we took Stormy inside and tried to find out what was wrong with him, but I couldn't find out anything. He refused to eat and barely was able to drink, and ten minutes before death he started having seizures. his head wasn't rapidly shaking, his neck was instead contorting or twisting to the side. he couldn't really walk or balance, one leg wanted to stay stretched out while the other one was normal, and eventually he died laying on his side. I don't know if it was Marek's disease or any type of virus because it felt like it happened way too suddenly. I usually do a head count on my chickens every day and thought he was doing just fine the day before. after death was when I noticed all he had underneath his feathers was skin and bones and his crop felt absent.

Was what I described Marek's disease or something else?

 

[Debbie292d]

So sorry!

Do you have other roosters? If so, they might have not let him by the feeder to eat. It takes time for a healthy chicken to become skin and bones. It sounds like he basically starved to death.

The only way to know for sure is to get a necropsy done. Keep your rooster refrigerated until you get directions from the lab.
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[ArtJuice]

we only have one other rooster and I usually saw them get along. we have trouble with providing them with regular feed at the moment due to our financial standing but we give them something to eat every day usually vegetables, rice and/or grass. I find it unusual that the other seven chickens were acting just fine and eager to eat while he seemed partially paralyzed and died so quickly.

 

[LaFleche]

I am sorry you lost him.

How many chickens do you have?

Consider rehoming a few or even all of them if your financial situation does not allow to provide them with the nutrition they need. Vegetables, rice or grass are a nice extra, but are lacking of protein, carbohydrates and essential vitamins and leave your birds starving.

Please, check them all carefully to evaluate their condition as their plumage will hide emaciation until they keel over.

Welcome to the BYC community!

 

[ArtJuice]

As of losing Stormy we have eight chickens, one stays inside because she's the only bantam hen we have which would often get sick and be bullied or trampled by the rest of the flock.

Stormy was a sweet boy and I had a really, really close bond with him, just like I do with the bantam hen (same breed as he was). I might consider rehoming if I can't afford feed for them soon.

 

[LaFleche]

Cooked potatoes with curd cheese and a tablespoon of sunflower oil will help. And maybe you could go to the grocery stores and restaurants to ask for the scraps and dairy products out of date which often are still fine to use and fruit like bananas that are no longer sellable.

 

[ArtJuice]

we were able to get them some feed today. all seven seem to be doing just fine but had a bit of an impacted crop after eating. not entirely sure if starvation was what got to Stormy, i will update if anything else happens.