Rooster not crowing + black comb!

booericreek · **Joined:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:07 am **Posts:** 39

Yesterday when I let my chooks out the rooster was not himself, normally he chases a few chickens... He didn't crow yesterday and still hasn't, he doesn't look happy, he had trouble getting off his roost this morning and also the tip of his comb is going black. Not a good weekend for this to happen as nothing is open!!
Does anyone know what this could be??

b&p · **Posted:** Sun Apr 04, 2010 4:40 pm

As he has quite a large single comb his comb blackness could be from lack of circulation if he roosts with his head under his wing or his head quite low...pretty common I hear amongst single combed boys once it starts getting cold.

Is he eating/drinking? What are he's poos like? Has he be beaten up by another rooster?
Have you added new birds to his pen?

booericreek · **Joined:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:07 am **Posts:** 39

He actually does sleep with his head low, he's probably 2yrs old, and we do have another rooster who is about 5 mths old (coming of age I guess). I did notice him eating bugs today but not any seed, I generally let them out most of the day. He's not crowing tho, or really worried about the hens. We have been meaning to get rid of the other rooster, maybe should sooner rather than later. Can't really tell what his poos are like cause he roosts closely with other hens. One thing tho, I have never wormed my chooks, which I've been reading on the forum most people do!!! So I'm about to read up on the best way to do that, unless anyone can give me tips!! I also haven't noticed him drinking...Hope he'll be o.k.

b&p · **Posted:** Sun Apr 04, 2010 8:15 pm

Yep worm them all. There are heaps of worm meds around so pop into your local produe and get something off the shelf. They will no doubt have Piperzine or Kilverm at the very least. Both go in the water,just follow the directions.

I would be seperating him and observing him. Can you cage him? At least than you will know what his poos are like and if he is eating and drinking. No so worried about food at the moment but he needs to stay hydrated. Any cage will do as long as he can stand up in it and move around a little.

booericreek · **Joined:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:07 am **Posts:** 39

I did see a poo of his this morning and it was orangy colour looked quite slimey, I was able to feed him a little bread, but haven't noticed him drinking at all, a hen seems to be in the same condition as him also....I will seperate him and the hen, is there anyway I can make him drink?

vickyk · **Joined:** Wed Apr 07, 2010 4:22 pm **Posts:** 1

Can that be caused by cold weather sort of like frost bite?

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

If he's quiet, not crowing, and has a bluish comb he probably has a respiratory infection. That can affect the oxygenation of the blood and impair circulation. I would also keep observing him closely. I'd feel over his breast area to see if he's losing much weight, adn just monitor how he's coping. Usually these things pass without too much interference, but it's worth watching him for any further signs. A viral infection needs to be fought off by the body's immune system, but sometimes any secondary infections can benefit from medications.

Roosters with big combs like that seem to have a daily rhythm of circulation as well. Sometimes you see bluishness in the early evenings, or in cold weather. I don't worry overly unless it stays like it during the day. Then I look more closely and see if it's a sign of sickness.

booericreek · **Joined:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:07 am **Posts:** 39

Well he actually seems to be getting better. On Tuesday I wormed the whole flock as a few of them weren't looking good, I also dusted them for mites. But since I have noticed a couple of hens with chicken pocks, which I think that I read in someone elses post that her chook had warts, luckily I had read that or I'd be beside myself, so......maybe my whole chook problem could of been caused be the really bad mosquito problem we have in the hen house??? Since I have sprayed the house, and will continue to spray it with a mixture of tea tree oil and water!! My poor boy still isn't crowing tho, been a week now, but he's back onto mating the girls!!

Egglive · **Joined:** Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:58 am **Posts:** 267

It sounds like your birds have fowl pox. It's hard to say without photos, but it's carried by mosquitoes. Once the birds have it and recover from it they are immune from it. It's a viral infection. You can't treat it with anything other than good tucker and good animal husbandry. Some people put a bit of Bettadine on the pox sores as it's antibacterial and antifungal. Some people choose to put a bit of aloe vera on the sores. Some people leave them alone and usually they dry up and drop off.

It is contagious though. If you have younger chicks I would try and keep them separate and away from mosquitoes which carry it from one bird to another.

There are two types of fowl pox - wet pox & dry pox. Dry pox is just like a cold with some accompanying sores. Wet pox is a bit nastier and can come with severe respiratory symptoms and lesions down the throat. I had wet pox here this season and decided to vaccinate my whole flock.

If your birds are looking pretty good and getting better, they may have a touch of the mild version.

booericreek · **Joined:** Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:07 am **Posts:** 39

I think you're right Eggsalive, where do you get the vaccination from, vet or rural store?? But they do seem to be getting better, but I'd like to know about the vaccination just in case. I'll try get some pics of them today and load them on later.

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Rooster not crowing + black comb!

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