low frequency growling

[WildBillHicks]

Got a beautiful Light Sussex cockerel the other day. He seemed happy and healthy but he was doing this low frequency growling similar to a cat purr kind of thing and today I noticed his mouth would gape from time to time. He was eating earlier so I doubt it's gape worm. I got him from a local feed store which buys birds from anyone so I have no idea where he came from. I looked at him for about 30 mins before I bought him. He is randy, his legs are pink, his eyes and sinuses are clear, he exhibited a lot of energy, good feathering, etc.

Any ideas? That weird growling is what really got to me. Never heard a cock do that before.

Thanks

 

[thebanthams]

my hens sounds like that when I am out with them, they kind of "talk" like what did I bring them. they always get that weird growl and cackling noise when I am in the garden ! ( I throw tomatoes or bugs for them )

 

[WildBillHicks]

Me and my dad picked him up and gave him a good looking over.

His eyes are clear
Sinuses clear
Comb DARK red, redder than any of my other 13 chickens. Could this mean something or is it the breed?
Feet, legs fine.
No mites
Head was VERY warm almost hot like a human with a high fever. I have no idea if this is normal. I picked up a hen and she was warm but she didn't seem near as warm as he did but she's half his size so I don't know.
We rubbed his crop and neck for a while. Really didn't know what we were doing just thought it was a good idea.
Opened his mouth but didn't see anything obvious.
He would stop and make that funny noise and gape his mouth. When I had him in my arms I could hear that growl better. It sound like a weez. It was like an old person weez. It didn't sound good at all.

But, he's randy as hell. He mated or tried to mate (he's young so he's still figuring it out) 6-7 times in an hour.
He ate and drank. He ran around some, strutting a few times.

His poop was a bit running one time and solid the next time.

It's very odd to hear him make that horrible weezing sound and gape his mouth one minute and to see him acting normal the next.

SOMEONE please advise.

Oh, he does this a lot too. He shakes his head. I made a vid yesterday of it. Is this an indication of something health related or just a quirky thing he does.

p.s. yes there's a bee in the vid but that's just a coincidence. He does that funky head shake a lot, with or without bees flying around.