Cockerel is not eating enough

[StinkyAcres]

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.

 

[Nonafel]

Why do you think he's not eating enough?
Not as full doesn't mean he's lacking. Egg laying hens consume more food as they are using more nutrients for egg production.

My rooster does this in a way.
He can't quite get down in the feeders due to his comb, but nibbles around the outside from what the others fling or move.
This is in addition to free range.
He will make the most of digging in when the feeders are filled to the tops, but this is just picking out choice parts of the feed, not desperate gobbling.
Will also do the food call when I toss some on the ground for him. He's not starving that's for sure.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Why do you think he's not eating enough?

His crop has been completely empty when I check it in the evenings then when I offer him food on the roost he eats it for a long time. He is also pretty thin, but I don't know if that's because of his age.

Not as full doesn't mean he's lacking. Egg laying hens consume more food as they are using more nutrients for egg production.

That is good to know. Thanks! This is my first rooster.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I watched him a bit while I was cleaning the coop today. I set my ducks' food bowl up on top of a box to get it out of the way while I cleaned and he ate from it and actually seemed to like having it up high. I'm thinking he needs wide mouthed feeders (like the dog bowl I have for my ducks) raised up a little higher.

 

[NatJ]

What kind of feeder do you use for your chickens? Maybe there is something about that feeder that causes extra problems for him.

 

[StinkyAcres]

What kind of feeder do you use for your chickens? Maybe there is something about that feeder that causes extra problems for him.

He's had access to both the dog bowl (set on the ground) and a gravity chicken feeder like this:

 

[StinkyAcres]

He's had access to both the dog bowl (set on the ground) and a gravity chicken feeder like this:
View attachment 4301125

BUT - I should mention the ducks often guard the dog bowl feeder and Bjorn won't go near them.

 

[NatJ]

He's had access to both the dog bowl (set on the ground) and a gravity chicken feeder like this:
View attachment 4301125

For that feeder, I would wonder if his comb and/or wattles bump when he tries to eat from it. Since you mentioned that they are frostbitten and hard, that makes me even more suspicious that they are getting in the way.

For the dog bowl on the ground, I can't think why that would be a problem. So if he already has access to that, I don't know what to think. Edit to add: oh, if the ducks keep him away from that bowl, then he may be stuck with the gravity feeder or nothing.

Have you watched to be sure he is drinking?

 

[StinkyAcres]

For that feeder, I would wonder if his comb and/or wattles bump when he tries to eat from it. Since you mentioned that they are frostbitten and hard, that makes me even more suspicious that they are getting in the way.

For the dog bowl on the ground, I can't think why that would be a problem. So if he already has access to that, I don't know what to think. Edit to add: oh, if the ducks keep him away from that bowl, then he may be stuck with the gravity feeder or nothing.

Have you watched to be sure he is drinking?

I suspect that is the case as well. I have not seen him drink in a while, but I offered him water (from a bucket) and he didn't want it.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I hope giving him his own elevated feeder bowl will help.