Clark (Cockeral) is Suddenly Very Quiet!

[noel1asn]

How is Clark today? Have you seen the vet?

 

[Catnip5]

Some improvement. Nibbling, wanting some action with the girls. Disgustingly hot and humid here so I think he's perking up in spite of the heat. Not eating enough...giving him nutri-drench and electrolytes. Not crowing still. Thankfully I've got the next 4 days off so I'll have more time to observe and support. The rest of the flock is as perky as ever. The ducks are happy he's not stalking them. Vet that will see chickens is a 45 minute drive, expensive and they report all chicken visits to the state! Not worth it to me as long as he continues to improve,

 

[noel1asn]

How is Clark doing? Much better I hope.

 

[Catnip5]

Well, I'm at a loss...All I can think is perhaps he was utterly humiliated by the older girls and lost his confidence. Seriously...still not crowing at all but otherwise as frisky as ever and his appetite seems to be back to normal. Can they rupture their vocal chords? It's really turning out to be quite nice having a quiet Cockeral. He still tries to bed every girl in the yard but has learned which of the older girls won't tolerate his advances. It's all very strange...he lost his voice overnight but it's been two weeks or more now and he seems to be doing just fine. If he were truly sick I think I'd be seeing some decline at this point in time but I'm not. He may be the owner of the runny poop I see every now and again...not certain. Otherwise he just gave up crowing for good.

 

[aart]

Is he making any vocalizations?
Right when you start to appreciate the quiet?...he'll start back up....lol

 

[Catnip5]

UPDATE! So, after worrying for days and supplementing him with Nutri-Drench I finally, after all these weeks, have concluded that Clark must have been utterly humiliated by one of the older girls. Seriously, he's fine! He gave up crowing for sex!!! He's interested in mounting every girl in the yard and the ducks who have become savvy in terms of getting away from him or jumping in one of their pools. I have no idea what the heck happened - maybe someone pounced on him or who the heck knows...what I can say for certain is he's eating well, acting normally, bright and active and interesting in mating all the time. As for crowing, hardly a crow out of him. He keeps alert to predators and is clucking his treats for the girls song but crowing just isn't his thing.
Works for me and definitely for the neighbors who asked whether I got "rid" of the rooster. NO I did not and don't plan to either.
Happy ending to a weird and worrisome period.