I am trying to figure out why my 10-month-old cockerel has not been eating enough. It seems that either 1) he is too focused on his hens and letting them have the food that he forgets to eat, or 2) he just has a hard time eating.
In the summer I noticed that his crop was not as full as the hens' in the evenings. Now that it's winter his crop has been empty in the evenings. But it's not that he doesn't want to eat. I know that because when I offer him feed in a bowl or in my hands he gobbles it up. Last night I stood there holding the feed bowl up to his face and he ate and ate for several minutes. He did seem to have difficulty getting the feed (all flock crumble) down his throat and ended up flinging most of it. His beak looks normal and isn't crossed or anything. However, his comb and wattles are frostbitten and hard and it seemed like they were getting in the way. He also seems to have constant nasal congestion (my flock is MG positive).
Any other ideas? What can I try to get him eating enough on his own?
Here he is. His name is Bjorn.
In the summer I noticed that his crop was not as full as the hens' in the evenings. Now that it's winter his crop has been empty in the evenings. But it's not that he doesn't want to eat. I know that because when I offer him feed in a bowl or in my hands he gobbles it up. Last night I stood there holding the feed bowl up to his face and he ate and ate for several minutes. He did seem to have difficulty getting the feed (all flock crumble) down his throat and ended up flinging most of it. His beak looks normal and isn't crossed or anything. However, his comb and wattles are frostbitten and hard and it seemed like they were getting in the way. He also seems to have constant nasal congestion (my flock is MG positive).
Any other ideas? What can I try to get him eating enough on his own?
Here he is. His name is Bjorn.
