My rooster is sleeping all the time! What's his problem?

[NHchicks]

I've been noticing for a couple weeks now that our rooster is sleeping a lot. He's the first one into the coop at night, last one out at the morning. I haven't noticed a lot of mating activity either - actually I haven't been noticing any, but I haven't been particularly watching either. Right now, the 9 hens are all out in the woods scratching (they seem fine and really happy that it's spring) and he's sitting here by the house with his back to the sun on one leg asleep. I also have noticed him, when it was colder, sitting on the step where they love to hang out at my house, on one leg sleeping, while his hens are all around him preening their feathers.

What would cause a rooster to be so sleepy? I'm afraid this will interfere with my normal spring hatch plans. He's only just under 1 year old, and the hens are his hatch-mates, except for 4 hens that are 2 years old.

I don't see any marks on him. No predators (my dog takes care of that).

He does crow, but not an awful lot.

I don't want to lose him. He's my only rooster, and he's a nice, handsome guy. He's a NH Red/Auracana(?) mix. I'm worried about him. (Not worried enough to pay a vet bill tho)

Edit: Now that I'm thinking about it, in a couple of our late-winter yucky rains lately, the hens have all been huddled under the car, and the rooster I've noticed has stood near them right out in the rain, with his tail down and the water dripping off his feathers and down his tail. I wonder if that cold rain was too much for him. I guess he wants to be near the hens but can't fit comfortably under the car.

 

[NHchicks]

I'm trying to edit that post above, but it's not "catching".

So I'll put the edit here:

Edit: Now that I'm thinking about it, in a couple of our late-winter yucky rains lately, the hens have all been huddled under the car, and the rooster I've noticed has stood near them right out in the rain, with his tail down and the water dripping off his feathers and down his tail. I wonder if that cold rain was too much for him. I guess he wants to be near the hens but can't fit comfortably under the car.

Edit: OOPS. I guess it did catch. My computer is extremely slow this morning. Sorry about that.

 

[NHchicks]

I'm going to bump this in case someone has an idea.

Right now poor roo is under the deck, all puffed out as big as he can get, sleeping. My daughter rubbed his ear a little and after that he squished right next to one of the hens under there and puffed again. He can't get warm. I'm worried about him.

Any ideas on warming up a rooster? My husband's response: Put him in the oven. That'll warm him.

Grrr.

 

[annep]

How warm is it outside? Can you put him in a place with lots of hay to get warm, or bring him in maybe? That way, you could keep a really good eye on him..We have some cat carriers that are our hospitals when we need them. That way, we just bring them inside, they have hay in them and food and water..Keep us posted! I sure hope he gets better!

 

[NHchicks]

Ooh. A pet carrier and bring him indoors would be a GREAT idea. I have a large dog crate, hmmm. I'd give him extra hay in the coop, but he perches anyway.

 

[klmclain1]

what about a heating pad under the crate on low, or a hot water bottle in there? I've also heard people talk about wrapping their birds in towels fresh out of the dryer...sounds nice and cozy warm to me!

 

[ruthless]

Sounds like you need to check for parasites ( lice/mites). They can make chickens tired and lethargic.
Also may need worming. do a search on that, lots of advice and information here.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
x2

 

[NHchicks]

The only thing about the mites/worms issue is that the hens are all fine. And he doesn't seem to have lost any feathers.

I think he has a fever. And I don't think he's long for this world. I suspect he caught a chill from standing out in the cold rain, and then Friday we had high winds all day.

Wouldn't you think if one had worms, they all might show symptoms?

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
What are the symptoms of worms?