Roo standing with his beak on the ground

[kstavert]

I recently moved 5 birds from one coop into the
new, enlarged chicken/duck run...

the 5 birds - 4 hens and a roo - have been kept
separate - yet able to see and "interact" with the
rest of the flock for about a week.

Yesterday, I opened the door so that the 5 could
come out in the run if/when they wanted to....

Daddy Roo - a VERY large New Hampsire Red -
is extremely possessive of "HIS" flock....

He and the new roo went many rounds ... it
looked as if they were just tiring each other
out.... didn't see any significant wounds....

today, New Roo has spent the entire day in
a coop - bent over, with his beak touching the
floor.... all 4 of his ladies have been close by.

Is there anything I can do for New Roo? is this
'possibly a "self esteem thing"? I don't know
that much about roo behaviours.

I will appreciate any input/feedback and suggestions
on how I can help my poor roo

Karen

 

[sourland]

He is probably maintaining a low profile so that he doesn't get his butt kicked again. Make sure that he isw getting enough to eat and drink. It can be very difficult integrating a new rooster into an established flock containing a rooster.

 

[seminolewind]

He may have hurt himself during the "fight". I had one that had a fight thru some chicken coop fencing, and he couldn't walk for 3 days.

 

[kstavert]

thank you... I'm keeping my eyes on him

 

[Eggcessive]

A picture may help. He could have limber neck or he could have wry neck or torticolis from a head or neck injury. It can also occur with a vitamin deficiency, with certain infectious diseases, or anything that can cause brain or spinal inflammation. Feeding and watering can be a problem, and they may need assisitance. Vitamin b1 (thiamine,) vitamin E, and selenium are usually given for treatment. Poultry Nutri-Drench and Poultry Cell vitamins are 2 that contain all 3 of those. Below are pictures of wry neck, and here are a couple of links to read: http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/Crookneck/Crookneck.html
http://oureggbasket.blogspot.com/2013/04/wry-neck-or-crook-neck-understanding-it.html

 

[Eggcessive]

Limberneck is neck paralysis that may be associated with botulism, Mareks disease, and other diseases in chickens. Knowing whether he has wry neck or has trouble holding up his neck would be helpful. Here is a link about botulism: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/diseaseinfo/19/botulism

Limber neck or flaccid paralysis of neck due to botulism

 

[kstavert]

Thank you so much for all of this info....
Actually, the top image is what my roo
looked like for two days

these poor babies look very sad... I hate
when my birds are hurt or sick ;(

I'm pretty sure that my roo is suffering
a blow to his ego.... or something to
that effect.....

he's been upright for much of the afternoon....

I kept hearing funny noises from the coop
and went to investigate.... one of his ladies
was standing beside him (his beak still on
the floor) and she was making soft ...not
quite clucking sounds... more like crooning...
but light...anyway, I've never heard this
before..... it sounded like encouragement

who knows....anyway, this poor roo had been
king of his little domain for about 1 1/2 years
and now, he's in with a whole mess of other
birds - one of whom wants to beat his pants
off.....

before they were tucked in for the night, the
roo was standing up straight.

This sort of begs another question.... about
roos....

I hatched a whole bunch of eggs this Summer
and the roos in the new hatch are becoming
more obvious.... I now have between 8 and 12
roos - Daddy Roo is 2 1/2 years old....

when do you remove older roos and keep
younger ones?

what do you do with the "extra" roos you
have if you hatch your own?

thanks
Karen