I'm feeling a lot of feelings right now so bear with me.
I found a 10 week old cockerel on a local re-home group. The poster had a few others, included a lot of information about each, and generally seemed to be knowledgeable, responsible, and careful with her birds. I contacted her with a few questions and she gave me good advice regarding keeping rooster and choosing a breed/size appropriate for my hens. She mentioned having this one that fit my criteria and she had raised him in her living room so he was very accustomed to being handled and was friendly (I have kids so this was important to me).
She told me this roo had wry tail but I wasn't overly concerned with that if he was otherwise a good match. However upon returning home with him, I notice he also has a huge bony lump on his back - presumably his spine (roach back/scoliosis) on his right side. His tail points off to his left.
At this point I'm feeling a little taken. Had I known about his back, I probably would have passed on him, since I'm not sure how this will affect his gait or reproductive functions.
On to my question. He spends 90% of his time in his quarantine pen just laying down. He doesn't walk around and scratch or peck at stuff like my birds do. But he's also never been away from his home and family, and now suddenly he's all alone in a new place so I'm hoping it's just stress? He's freaked out by my dogs but I have to leave a dog nearby bc we have fox on a chicken murdering spree in the neighborhood. He pops up to stretch, eat, and drink every time I visit or talk to him, but is quick to return to his resting position.
To make me even more paranoid, I've noticed some red color in a few of his stools. Not all, and the stools are otherwise normal and formed, but could this be due to stress or sudden diet change or do I need to treat him medically? Uggh. He's only been here 48 hours and I'm feeling like I made a big mistake.
I found a 10 week old cockerel on a local re-home group. The poster had a few others, included a lot of information about each, and generally seemed to be knowledgeable, responsible, and careful with her birds. I contacted her with a few questions and she gave me good advice regarding keeping rooster and choosing a breed/size appropriate for my hens. She mentioned having this one that fit my criteria and she had raised him in her living room so he was very accustomed to being handled and was friendly (I have kids so this was important to me).
She told me this roo had wry tail but I wasn't overly concerned with that if he was otherwise a good match. However upon returning home with him, I notice he also has a huge bony lump on his back - presumably his spine (roach back/scoliosis) on his right side. His tail points off to his left.
At this point I'm feeling a little taken. Had I known about his back, I probably would have passed on him, since I'm not sure how this will affect his gait or reproductive functions.
On to my question. He spends 90% of his time in his quarantine pen just laying down. He doesn't walk around and scratch or peck at stuff like my birds do. But he's also never been away from his home and family, and now suddenly he's all alone in a new place so I'm hoping it's just stress? He's freaked out by my dogs but I have to leave a dog nearby bc we have fox on a chicken murdering spree in the neighborhood. He pops up to stretch, eat, and drink every time I visit or talk to him, but is quick to return to his resting position.
To make me even more paranoid, I've noticed some red color in a few of his stools. Not all, and the stools are otherwise normal and formed, but could this be due to stress or sudden diet change or do I need to treat him medically? Uggh. He's only been here 48 hours and I'm feeling like I made a big mistake.
