What's wrong with my rooster?

kdms · Post by **kdms** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:05 pm

He's so gentle and an awesome protector - he'd even protect my toddler and myself from the evil buckeye we culled. We were really hoping to find a way to integrate him back in with the rest of the flock.

What else besides scrambled eggs can I tempt him with?

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:10 pm

Scrambled eggs are very good, try maybe a few flakes of oatmeal (not horse oats, human oatmeal) - he needs energy but he needs it to be easily and quickly digested. Chickens have a very high metabolic rate, they go down fast if they aren't eating. My chickens go crazy for sesame seeds but if he's never had them, he might not even sample them. Try to offer him food often. If he eats just a tiny bit each time, great.

kdms · Post by **kdms** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:15 pm

Cooked or uncooked? We've always got instant oats....husband has them every morning.

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:32 pm

I am sorry he is not doing well. If you look at the

chart I had linked the one that looks closet to your fellow

is he may have some parasite. I will also post a link to where I get all my chicken medicines, it is in Cambridge On but they will ship!

http://www.farmersfarmacy.com/gc/gc_page

Flat Rock Farm · Post by **Flat Rock Farm** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:34 pm

Also try giving him some plain yogurt with the scrambled eggs, the probiotics may help his guts a bit.

kdms · Post by **kdms** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:38 pm

Thanks everyone. The back of his comb is starting to darken again....and he's completely ignored the oats. Seems like he just wants to sleep. If he's still with us in the morning I'll try the yogurt with eggs again.

Robbie · Post by **Robbie** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 7:52 pm

Oh no....... kdms I'm so sorry you have had such bad luck with the roosters.

kdms · Post by **kdms** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:09 pm

You know, this is our first year with chickens, and every single one of our neighbours either has them or has had them in the past. We've raised 81 birds this year. We've lost two chicks to accidents, one chick to illness, one hen to a coyote, one hen to an overenthusiastic rooster, one meat bird managed to get itself smothered at 8 weeks, one OCD insane rooster was culled, and one rooster was rehomed to save its life from said insane rooster. According to our neighbours, a 91% success rate in our first year as rookies is really great.

I don't buy it. None of them are supposed to die, damn the statistics. Grr..... (vent done :|)

Post by **WLLady** » Sun Jan 31, 2016 8:15 pm

I am sorry....I have been through this too-pretty sure its heart....if his breastbone is showing really badly he is probably past the point of return. Very sorry to say.

Post by **Killerbunny** » Mon Feb 01, 2016 9:32 am

Sorry to hear he's not doing well. I'll never be able to be detached from my birds, they're pets too.