Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[mammapajama]

Help! We found a rooster last fall (vaccination history unknown). He looked to be just mature, probably hatched in the spring. He was the picture of health all through this horrible New England winter, but he started sneezing a few months ago. From there it was a gradual withdrawl, such that I didn't even notice he was really sick until a few weeks ago. Formerly my mortal enemy, he would perch next to me on the deck and gasp for breath for hours. His tail now droops and his comb is dark and withered. He eats, but not much and mostly stands around in a daze, maybe running half-heartedly for a treat. He no longer mates or crows. He doesn't sneeze or cough much. The girls with whom he shares his are as chirpy as ever.

 

A friend who is (not a bird) vet gave him some dewormer and a course of doxycycline. Although we've only managed to get the doxy in to him every other day for a week, I still think he should be looking better if it were working at all. If anything, I've made him worse, as he squeeks and gags for an hour after each enexpertly delivered dose. :< . I tried putting it into some berries or bread, which he refuses to even look at (and which I believe may have been the cause of the unfortunate demise of a wild catbird last night).

 

What do I do? There is no real chicken vet around here. Should I take the plunge and euthanize? Wait it out? Give up on the Doxy?

 

I regret all of the times I wished him dead for terrorizing me while I tended my hens. He really was good to them.

[Egluntyne]

Is he gaping and coughing, and stretching his neck? If so, he may have gapeworm, and because he has an uncertain history, this could be why the others are unaffected, so far. In the UK a double dose of flubenvet would probably be given. I'm not sure if this is available in the US.