Are Roosters More Prone to Disease than Hens?

[BlackHackle]

Hi, I've noticed an issue that reappears in each and every import I get; I always loose all the roosters a month after they arrive on the property to some unknown disease and have never lost any hens in all the attempts.

- 4 years ago I imported a Partridge Rock trio, lost the rooster 2 weeks later. No hen was even sick.
- 5 years ago I imported a Buff Orpington Quad, you guessed it right, I lost the roo the 3rd day
- 3 years ago I imported a 12 Partridge Rocks, lost all the roosters save one
- 2 years ago I imported Marans, Welsummers, and some others and lost all the males
- 1 year ago I imported 2 Ixworth roosters and a hen, lost both roosters and the hen is still alive
- 1/2 month ago I imported a trio of Andalusians, the rooster is getting sick and the hens are perfectly healthy
- 1/2 month ago I imported a pair of Andalusians, the rooster has a leg disease and the hen is still living

I am now scared to import any male birds, what is going on here?!?

 

[snow5164]

When you say imported , what do you mean ?

What are they eating ?
How are they dying ? Is your neighbor poisoning them ? ( yes I watch crime shows)

 

[BlackHackle]

When you say imported , what do you mean ?

What are they eating ?
How are they dying ? Is your neighbor poisoning them ? ( yes I watch crime shows)

I mean shipped from another farm to my location. The only ones imported from another country was a Sussex roo from Belgium and two others from Sweden. These were imported recently and haven't died oddly enough.

They are eating game bird feed, but mostly poultry crumbles like layer ration, multi-purpose supplement, or chick feed depending on the age.

They are dying from some unknown disease, they just become lethargic and stop eating, then they die.

I can see you watch crime shows...must be Showcase NCIS
No, my neighbors don't even recognize I have chickens, they live pretty far apart

 

[snow5164]

Have you had them all shipped ? Or have you picked any up? Could it be heat related? Well water? Calcium in the food?

That’s all I’ve got , I hope some of the wise hens on this site step up......

This is very strange , kind of wish my roosters would just die ..... good luck

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Are you quarantining the birds upon arrival? Have you had necropsies done on the deceased birds? Do you provide the birds with electrolytes upon arrival?
Did all of the cocks show similar or even the same symptoms prior to passing?
It could be stress from being shipped but then you’d expect the hens to show symptoms too.

 

[lazy gardener]

Are you keeping the males in separate housing? What are you feeding?

My roos never die unless I cull/process them.

 

[Cayuga momma]

They are eating game bird feed, but mostly poultry crumbles like layer ration, multi-purpose supplement, or chick feed depending on the age.

Kidney failure could be the cause if the roosters are eating feed that has a high calcium ration, such as layer feed. Also if they are not drinking enough water.

 

[BlackHackle]

Have you had them all shipped ? Or have you picked any up? Could it be heat related? Well water? Calcium in the food?

That’s all I’ve got , I hope some of the wise hens on this site step up......

This is very strange , kind of wise my roosters would just die ..... good luck

70% were shipped. I have picked up quite a few at shows and meetups. I'm guessing it could be related to the weather conditions. Thanks for your help!!

Are you quarantining the birds upon arrival? Have you had necropsies done on the deceased birds? Do you provide the birds with electrolytes upon arrival?
Did all of the cocks show similar or even the same symptoms prior to passing?
It could be stress from being shipped but then you’d expect the hens to show symptoms too.

Yes, I always quarantine on arrival
Nope, I don't do that necropsies stuff (whatever it means).
Yes, I provide electrolytes on arrival
Yea, they all show the exact same symptoms before passing

Are you keeping the males in separate housing? What are you feeding?

My roos never die unless I cull/process them.

Nope, all the males run with their respective females. Post #3 includes what I feed.

The funny thing is, I never loose roos from hatchery stock..ever. It is only the roos I buy from show breeders that seem to be the ones that die

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Nope, I don't do that necropsies stuff (whatever it means).

A necropsy is an animal autopsy to determine the cause of death. With so many losses and almost all of them being cocks it would be a good idea to have a necropsy done.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

What do the poops of the affected birds look like? Can you post a picture?