EricaR
Hatching
- Mar 17, 2016
- 1
- 0
- 7
Hi everyone,
Just wondering if anyone can help. We have a rooster who up until about a week ago was perfectly fine, crowed multiple times a day, when he was walking in the yard, would strut, walk easily, mount the hens, etc.
About a week ago, I noticed when they were walking around, he was having a hard time keeping up with the hens, would walk a few feet, then lie down with his wings supporting him. He was alert, keeping his eye on the hens, if they moved, he would get back up, walk a few feet, then lie back down. He also seems like he's winded, and he has not been crowing.
My thoughts: he needs his spurs clipped. I'm currently trying to locate someone that could do this for me nearby, as this is our first experience with backyard chickens, and I'm afraid to hurt him clipping them myself before seeing someone show me the proper way. Could his spurs be interfering with him to this extent? They aren't crazy long, maybe stick 2-3" out on each leg.
Also, they have a roost which he typically was on most of the time. It's a bit of a jump for him to get up there, but he and the hens didn't seem to have any problems up until this point. Is it possible that he injured himself hopping up there? He doesn't seem to be favoring a leg, both of his wings seem to be fine, he's just using them for balancing himself while lying down. But he hasn't been up on the roost since he started acting this way.
Other than acting strangely, he appears healthy. He's not losing feathers, his crown and beak appear normal.
Any insight or ideas would be greatly appreciated!
Just wondering if anyone can help. We have a rooster who up until about a week ago was perfectly fine, crowed multiple times a day, when he was walking in the yard, would strut, walk easily, mount the hens, etc.
About a week ago, I noticed when they were walking around, he was having a hard time keeping up with the hens, would walk a few feet, then lie down with his wings supporting him. He was alert, keeping his eye on the hens, if they moved, he would get back up, walk a few feet, then lie back down. He also seems like he's winded, and he has not been crowing.
My thoughts: he needs his spurs clipped. I'm currently trying to locate someone that could do this for me nearby, as this is our first experience with backyard chickens, and I'm afraid to hurt him clipping them myself before seeing someone show me the proper way. Could his spurs be interfering with him to this extent? They aren't crazy long, maybe stick 2-3" out on each leg.
Also, they have a roost which he typically was on most of the time. It's a bit of a jump for him to get up there, but he and the hens didn't seem to have any problems up until this point. Is it possible that he injured himself hopping up there? He doesn't seem to be favoring a leg, both of his wings seem to be fine, he's just using them for balancing himself while lying down. But he hasn't been up on the roost since he started acting this way.
Other than acting strangely, he appears healthy. He's not losing feathers, his crown and beak appear normal.
Any insight or ideas would be greatly appreciated!