Head Rooster lost his mojo, now he's a coward

[Sellam]

I have 6 roosters. My favorite, who used to be the head of the flock, and is the oldest of the 6 (by a year for the two next closest in age), got a leg injury and separated himself from the rest of the flock, to the point where his health was deteriorating. So I put him in the "hospital" and kept him there until he no longer had a limp, which has been about a month. In the meantime, he was fed well and was allowed to hang out in the garden and forage.

Today, I reintroduced him to the flock and not only does he run from the other roosters like an abject coward, he continues to separate himself and sits forlornly out in the rain, which I can see is only going to lead to him getting sick and eventually dying. It seems he's gone soft.

Is this rooster done for, or will he eventually re-integrate back into the flock?

Thanks for any tips, anecdotes, and strategies.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Odds are he will not integrate back, especially not to his former position. He left the group and the other males took his spot and recreated the male chain of command. To them, he's now an outsider, and they are very unlikely to allow him to enter the flock again. Best bet would be to separate him with a few ladies

 

[Sellam]

Odds are he will not integrate back, especially not to his former position. He left the group and the other males took his spot and recreated the male chain of command. To them, he's now an outsider, and they are very unlikely to allow him to enter the flock again. Best bet would be to separate him with a few ladies

That's kind of what I figured. Thanks for the response.

 

[centrarchid]

Inspect him more closely for ongoing health issues despite your care to date. Is he underweight? How does his comb look?

 

[Sellam]

Inspect him more closely for ongoing health issues despite your care to date. Is he underweight? How does his comb look?

I don't think he's underweight. He seems to be eating OK. His comb is not standing straight up as it should though (much, much better than a month ago), and I considered that maybe he isn't entirely healthy other than the bad limp he had before I isolated him.

What should I look for when I next examine him?

Thanks!

 

[nicalandia]

Is this rooster done for, or will he eventually re-integrate back into the flock?

He is Done for, the other roos will gang up on him to keep their new ranks.

 

[centrarchid]

I don't think he's underweight. He seems to be eating OK. His comb is not standing straight up as it should though (much, much better than a month ago), and I considered that maybe he isn't entirely healthy other than the bad limp he had before I isolated him.

What should I look for when I next examine him?

Thanks!

Can you show current close-up pictures of his head, breast and feet?

 

[Sellam]

Can you show current close-up pictures of his head, breast and feet?

Here are photos of Albirdus as you requested. In case it's relevant, he is a Black Australorpe/Rhode Island Red cross, hatched here on the farm.

Thanks!

Sellam

 

[centrarchid]

He looks a little lean, but not terribly so. There appears to be a blue tint to his come that indicates to me he is not in top respiratory health. That alone can take away his mojo. Worms can impact ability to deliver oxygen to tissues by damaging blood. Feet and legs do not indicate dehydration.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Here are photos of Albirdus as you requested. In case it's relevant, he is a Black Australorpe/Rhode Island Red cross, hatched here on the farm.

Thanks!

Sellam

He looks fine to me, other then the swollen toe on his left foot. I would trim those spurs abit, if he were mine.