Just an off rooster

[AidKD]

So lately my rooster has just seemed off. He is usually very friendly and will come right over to me or anybody else who is outside. He doesn't love being picked up but when I do he is very content to stay with me. I let him out throughout the day everyday and I usually let him go back into the coop on his own. I also feed them table scraps every day and he loves them. Well he's started molting so I don't know if this has anything to do with it but he runs away from me and won't let me get close to him much less pick him up. I had to put him in a little early tonight and when I did he refused to go back into the coop. When I have to do that he always walks right in. I had to push him in tonight. He also didn't seem very interested in the table scraps today. I've tried to give him his space cause I know molting is hard on chickens. This is also his first molt. Any suggestion?

 

[Sablehaven]

Molting is often very stressful for chickens, sounds like your poor boy is having a hard time. There is small chance it is something else, but I wouldn't worry unless he shows other issues. He is probably trying to avoid other chickens and that is why he didn't want to go in the coop.

I once had this hen, Oz, a very strange brahma who got bullied pretty badly until she lost her mind. Every morning she'd run to the run door screaming while the other hens watched, looking bewildered and alarmed, until I let her out. She also had no interest in people and wouldn't let me near her.

Then she molted, lost half her feathers in two days and when I was putting them to bed Oz ran up to me screaming and dove into my skirts, where she hid until I picked her up and took her inside.

She spent the night with me.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Molting is irritating as feathers fall out and new pin feathers poke through, so as you can imagine they really don't want to be touched, not by you or by the others. I try not to handle my chickens at all during molt.

 

[AidKD]

Thanks! I was pretty sure that's what it was but I've never really had to deal with molting before. I will definately be giving him his space and and hopefully it gets better soon!

 

[Sablehaven]

Thanks! I was pretty sure that's what it was but I've never really had to deal with molting before. I will definately be giving him his space and and hopefully it gets better soon!

You are very welcome, I know that if Oz's molt had been any less obvious and dramatic I would have been absolutely terrified to have my least friendly chicken hiding under my skirt like a frightened toddler.

Hopefully your boy will recover quickly and get back to his old self : )

 

[AidKD]

You are very welcome, I know that if Oz's molt had been any less obvious and dramatic I would have been absolutely terrified to have my least friendly chicken hiding under my skirt like a frightened toddler.

Hopefully your boy will recover quickly and get back to his old self : )

Thanks!