cold or sick?

[AprilWC]

My OEGB rooster is sitting in the nest boxes with his feathers ruffled - he eats and drinks just fine, appears healthy but just sits in the boxes. I'm in GA and we've had some odd weather, warm and then cold - today we are around 32*. I just got the rooster over the weekend, is he sick or just bothered by the cold?

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I suspect neither, that the move has upset him. He may be hiding from the rest of the flock to avoid being pecked. 32 is not cold to a chicken.

 

[AprilWC]

I am worried today because this is the first day he has acted like this. I have had him since Saturday. The two hens I got with him are fine. Just a chicken newbie worried about her flock I guess.

 

[Judy]

Well, that's natural enough, and of course I don't know that he's not sick. But being an OEGB I wonder if he is smaller than the hens? Maybe finding himself at the bottom of the pecking order? I know games are very aggressive toward each other and tend to be people friendly; have no idea how they usually interact with their hens. Never had one. I have read games require a bit different care from more common breeds of chickens.

 

[AprilWC]

They all seem to get along, I haven't seen them pick on each other. I can tell the breeder really interacted with them because they're so calm when I handle them. Thanks for the info. I probably would have worried myself to death otherwise.

 

[AprilWC]

I found the rooster dead this morning.

 

[oldodonnell]

I'm sorry to hear that. Its a heart break. I lost one yesterday and she was my favorite.

 

[Miss Lydia]

so sorry to hear you lost the rooster, have you contacted the previous owner?