2 yr old rooster tongue nearly severed from other rooster

max101 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:45 am **Posts:** 13

Hi I have a 2yr old pekin rooster how decided to have a fight with my plymouth rooster though a fence
The pekin face is beaten and he wasnt eating for a day
This I thought was because of the fight
The next day or so he was still not eating so I had a look
His tongue is all wobbly and on closer inspection the tongue has a jagged wound down the throat.
It has been near 3/4 ripped off.
I have given him a broad spectrum antibiotic and have force feed him mince being careful he does not swallow what is left of the tongue
What can I do??
Will the tongue mend itself??
Can a rooster survive without a tongue if it falls out??
He can crow but not as strong nor as often
His saliva is bubbly
If anyone can offer any suggestions I would be appreciative
Thanks

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hi, max101,

Poor little rooster :cry:

I would take him to a vet as soon as possible. He may require surgical attention and have his tongue stitched.

I don't know if he lost his tongue and survived this whole ordeal, whether or not he would be mute, but I imagine that it would be difficult for him to swallow with an injured ,or, mutilated tongue ,or, without a tongue at all. The excess saliva is the result of the injury, and can also be caused by an infection. Is the rooster running a temperature and have any pus like discharge from his beak?

But once again it sounds like he needs to see a vet.

Good luck.

HBG · **Joined:** Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:45 pm **Posts:** 176

I doubt their is much if anything you can do or a vet can do you may have to think about putting him down or he may suffer a slow death. You shoud call a vet and ask for advice if they give it? or try the online vets at http://www.justanswer.com/sip/pets/Gene ... 4godUXBcdg

Good luck

HBG

max101 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:45 am **Posts:** 13

I only know of one vet that knows anything about chickens and she has moved.

He is trying to eat and drink

Every now and then he gets food down

How do I know when the time is too put him down

How much time should I give him to see if he heals

I have never put anything down before

meathens · **Joined:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:49 pm **Posts:** 14

If he is eating and drinks properly then just leave him and see if he adapts you can check his breast bone to make sure he is not too thin and eating ok

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

Where do you live Max? A vet may be able to suture the wound or not, but will certainly be able to provide pain relief and/or antibiotics to help the bird eat until it recovers.

You can also tube feed the bird if it can't eat on its own. This involves passing a plastic/rubber tube via the mouth into the crop and pouring a slurry of pellets and warm water mixed in a blender. It does involve someone showing you how to do it but once you learn the technique it can save many birds and keep them going until such time as they can eat on their own.

Good luck.

Parvo

max101 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:45 am **Posts:** 13

I live in the newcastle region nsw
He is eating a little bit
I cant remove the tongue as the tongue is still joined onto the under part
The tear is down the throat
The only vet that looks after chickens here that i know of is the rspca and they said she has moved on
A rang another vet and they said the problem is putting it to sleep for the operation and the cost would be steep as the wound is down the throat
He has to eat chunks as he needs to kinda throw it down the back of throat
I have never put a tube down though
What size tube and if I get it wrong can I kill him by accident
I just dont know what to do
He has lost weight
Thank you for your help

parvo · **Joined:** Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:39 pm **Posts:** 735

I'd contact the Sugarloaf Animal Hospital on 49 551833. Dr Mark Simpson is very experienced in treating birds of all sorts and hopefully be able to help you. He may also be able to show you how to tube feed a chicken.

The size of the tube has to fit in the mouth but still allow the slurry to pass through it. Inner diameter of 10- 20 mm should be ok depending on your bird's size. If you are cutting plastic tubing yourself put a flame to the cut edge as this will melt the sharp edges and smooth them over. The vets may have a specific feeding tube which has an end to which you can attach a feeding syringe. Otherwise insert a funnel into one end & pour the slurry into this.

Let us know how you go.

meathens · **Joined:** Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:49 pm **Posts:** 14

You have to weigh up the cost v the rooster and if its worth the cost then go for it but get a fixed price from the vet before they do anything as costs will jump quickly as we all know.

max101 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:45 am **Posts:** 13

I know I rang sugarloaf vet $80.10 just to see him I know it will be anesthesia and who knows other costs
I have 3 kids I dont know what to do. I didnt think keeping chickens was so costly
Believe me I cook and everything for the chicken

I have bought bacon as the cubes the rooster can throw to the back of his throat and swallow I also grabbed sultanas
I have also mixed his grain in with egg to bind it and I roll it in a ball and he can swallow it
I really hope he makes it
He is doing his rooster things to the hens
Is this a good sign he is nourishing himself enough to survive

I forgot to say thank you for advice hopefully in the future I can give something back

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2 yr old rooster tongue nearly severed from other rooster

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