Bantam rooster unexplained deaths

[badassv8queen]

Ok this is going to be long....we have many chickens approx 120 to 150. We have purchased many from tractor supply and a select few from a local farm store. We also have hatched our own. I have aquired a back yard hatched bantam rooster. We have never had any issues other than predators.we bought from our local feed store and tsc. We have polish that are about a year old. Currently I have one polish rooster left who is riding the cull line. He has lost mobility in his legs. He can move about by flappling. fairly alert no other illness signs. It came on sudden. We started out with 5 polish roos and 3 hens. We are down to the same three hens and 1 rooster. About 6 months ago the first polish roo with the lameness and eventually he died. It was really crappy weather and we chalked it up to anything. Then another had the same issue. He passed we treated everyone with medicated feed electrolytes etc and all seemed well. About 7 months the ago I brought home a bantam frizzle cochin. We quarantined for at least 60 days. Checked for illness fed medicated to be on the safe side. All was well. We moved to our new farm house in december and moved the polish first. About a month and a half ago another polish came down with the lameness and passed. I then relocated the Cochin roo to the property. In his own pen. he came down with the same symptoms and passed on feb 25. Then about two weeks ago another polish roo passed same way. I have gone over feed changes and possible illnesses. Have weighted the options of mereks. But only my bantam roos whichbwere the only chickens purchasked at a local feed store and the Cochin from a backyard breeding have been affected. The hens in the same pen are not affected. I have 2 duccles (1 roo 1 hen) I purchased at tsc that have been with the polish since chicks in the brooder and have never been affected. They have free ranged with all my other flocks before all of this. I have cleaned and sanitized coops and clothes. But I cant understand what would only affect them. I have a large polish I hatched from eggs gifted to me and he has never been affected . our plan is if "Susan" our last rooster doesnt make it to send him off to get answers. Ive researched and feel if it was mereks it wouldnt be isolated to bantam roos. Can anyone weight in some thoughts or ideas?? I included pics of some ive lost. Thanks for any advice in advance!

 

[Jeanw]

I’m sorry for your losses! Very odd that only Roos are affected. I would have suggested maybe they are getting into something toxic but if the hens are fine it doesn’t make sense. Or perhaps they succumbed to a genetic issue. So sad.

 

[badassv8queen]

Thank you. I have many roos and hens. All my normal size are fine. I cannot understand it. I was able to put my polishes eggs in the incubator. So I'm sure I will have roos to see how the genetic run. We have changed our feed and suspect inconsistency with prior which is what lead us to a better feed in bulk. We have research every illness I think possible to find answers but I would think the entire flock would be affected. It's just sickening when I can't figure it out. I love my pom heads.

 

[Jeanw]

Not knowing is worse than knowing in many cases. I hope you solve the mystery!