Lost my little Rooster yesterday right before my eyes.

[centrarchid]

Not a death by bite. May not even be directly related to fighting. Details of greatest importance not provided but something else that might be involved is heat stress.

 

[henmama6plus]

actually both first with feet then last before death without feet on the ground. it was over in less than 4 minutes. From perfectly healthy feeding to a fight that was like 1 minute to this death dance. Very odd and strange to me especially being a first time hen or rooster owner.

 

[henmama6plus]

it was cool and breezy the day he died. The last two days prior were hot and humid. I kept them cool with water and they are under a shade tree . so I am still not convinced it was heat related. But he could have had weakness from prior days heat. ?????

 

[henmama6plus]

• henmama6
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actually both first with feet then last before death without feet on the ground. it was over in less than 4 minutes. From perfectly healthy feeding to a fight that was like 1 minute to this death dance. Very odd and strange to me especially being a first time hen or rooster owner.

 

[centrarchid]

Very odd for someone like me with lots of roosters for a long time and of breed developed for fighting. Something else was a major complication. Did he possibly get his head hung in

something while fighting?

 

[henmama6plus]

not that I know of. there is nothing in the pen except a log planted in the ground for them to have roost attached to. I have yet to drill holes for roost poles in the middle of the run. It was from eating to fighting to dying in less than 5 minutes . Very quick and I did not see everything cause i was looking at ground when he came around pole and started his floppy dance. there is a rock wall on the outside of the chicken wire that he might have hit his head on while the other chicken retaliated and bit him. I am not sure just hope it is not a disease that I don't know about. The rest of flock appear happy and well. Are eating and yesterday they went out of their run into their portable run. I picked each one up and put them in the portable run. Treated a few with DE for mites . Petted them all before putting in and again when taking them out to put back into their run and coop area last night. Today they had one small squaking over feeding. Did not see and it ended very quickly and then have not heard anything since from them. Seem to all be well and healthy. I am wondering if he could have choked on a piece of cucumber that was not cut up small enough for him ? I diced it and rediced it to small very small cubes. Am hesitant to feed them cucumbers again.

 

[tobit]

I'm sorry about your little cockerel about the fertilised eggs, there is no problem eating fertilised eggs, they last just as long as non-fertilised ones! Unless you feel uncomfortable eating one, I can understand that! - but then again eggs are basically a hens period so I guess that's also pretty weird... lol...

 

[centrarchid]

Rapid death as described could be from a mechanical infirmity.


Since he was not aggressor, his health may have been compromised before fight and attack could very well have happened once attacker figured out something was wrong. I have seem many times where birds will attack a flock member.

 

[henmama6plus]

OMG i think you have just made me NOT WANT TO EAT EGGS at all. lol.

 

[henmama6plus]

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I am not without a mad rooster yet. I caught the big rooster again biting a little hen on the neck yesterday. I picked up a stick and smacked him on the butt( if chickens have a butt) anyway I am hoping he stops being aggressive. yesterday was hot and water bottle was almost empty and he didn't want the hen to drink before him. I guess I need to add more bottles. I presently use a type of waterer with a spout that you use for rabbits etc. They have used that since I got them. I had a waterer and turned it into a feeder by making hole bigger. They constantly kicked pine into the water and dirtied in it so i got out the bottle waterers and they learned quickly to drink from them. I want to buy the nipples and use a big bucket type waterer. I am still in a makeshift coop and run. I need to get lots of lumber to do what I plan on for them. I need to get a start as summer is going by so fast. I plan on a two story coop insulated at top and using cement boards so it will be easy to clean out. Also want to insulate so they won't be cold when the temps are down to the freezing. Anyway these roosters are kinda nasty at times with the others. Not sure if is normal or mine are just mean. The hens are sweet and innocent. I took photos \but have never uploaded them. Not sure what or anything about them. Suspossed to be easter eggers. 3 russett and had 3 yellow . Now down to 2 yello. One big rooster for sure and not sure about the others??? I might have a few more roosters than original thought. About the fertilized eggs I was told they look nasty? I was told I did not want to eat them???? I have no idea . Any more info on that aspect???? Would appreciate any info cause I am a newbie and not an old farm hand.