Lost my beautiful little boy today. How long should they live?

[cochin gal]

I have lost 4 roos in 6 yrs. I have 2 hens that I have had for 6 yrs and they are healthy.
I just lost my 5yr old Bantam Brahma roo.
I took him to the vet and did an x-ray-he had a very large mass in his abdomen.
His symptoms were not passing stool, diff breathing. This mass was obstructing his GI tract and his breathing.
How long have you all had your roosters?

 

[white01]

i wish i knew, i am so sorry for your loss

 

[beckt]

Thats a very good question. The longest I ever had a roo live was 5 years. And he was as mean as a junkyard dog the last 2 years. I just don;t know the answer to that question. MY oldest girls just turnewd 8 years olds this past march.

 

[BlackDogPack]

I don't think I've had a roo live over 5 years. I had a turken that lived for 12, we eventually had to put her down because she was having a hard time getting around and was loosing a lot of weight. I have had other hens live 10 years. I don't know if it's because I don't get as attached to the roo's, or because they seem to get themselves in more trouble than the girls... or the most logical reason is there is 1 rooster per so many hens.

Sorry you lost your boy!

 

[Teresaann24]

My oldest roo is 4 I hope they live longer then 5 years he is the sweetest roo.

 

[cochin gal]

Thank you all for your sympathy.
Im starting to think the roos just don't live as long as the hens for some reason.

I get so attached to my chickies, my little boy followed me everywhere. He didn't get along with the hens
so I think I was his hen.

I will share this with ya all. I took him to the vet yesterday and my parents went with for support and then
my husband got off work in time to meet us at the clinic.
(This should be a sweet memory of my boy) So here comes this little roo with an entourage of 4 people fussing over him
and of course me in tears.
The vet I took him to was very sympathetic and gentle. I'm greatful

 

[tstilwell]

Im very sorry for your loss, I understand your pain....

 

[lovebabychicks]

Quote:
Ok, now that made me cry. I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad your little roo was loved while he was alive.

 

[chickenpiedpiper]

So sorry for your loss, sometimes, I think my favorite birds are my boys. Mine are all still young, ranging between 1 yr and 4. but I did hear someone on here talk about an old blind rooster that they had who was 18! said that he made the best hen,,,, looked after all the babies, even tho he was blind.

I believe it, my boys get very upset if a chick starts crying, sometimes they respond when the mother just sighs and walks away!

Sadly tho I think you are correct and that most roosters dont live as long, I think mother nature kind of designed them to be a bright but brief flame. I hope I am wrong, for my own crowers sakes.

My thoughts are with you.

 

[cochin gal]

I think your right. They seem to live very intently and die young. The hens are more passive and calmer, maybe taking things with less energy.
But that's what make the roos so cute and funny. There silly, clucking and preening behavior.