NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

So why exactly do I need roosters???
My Henry is really not doing well today/tonight. When I went out this afternoon he was huddled, laying down underneath the nest boxes. When I shut out the lights, he did get up to go roost but didn't have the strength to fly up. I picked him up to set him up there and he's lost a lot of his body weight in just the last few days. I figured maybe he could spend one last night with his girls. I will be surprised if he makes it until morning.

I have 1 BA roo that is just plain old mean and sets off the other BA roo (who hasn't started mating yet but they are the same age). BA roo #1 even gets mad if my EE roo mates with a hen, and then they both seem to beat up on her.
Which really makes me wonder... should I go without roosters at all?

He does sound like something is wrong with him . Have you examined him closely for signs of disease or injury ?
looked at his crop ..checked under his feathers ,etc ?
Do you do the fermented feed for your chickens or apple cider vinegar water ? or Vitamins ?
These first 2 things are supposed to help their health

 

[rancher hicks]

I hope you don't mind me jumping in here once in awhile even though I'm down in Dutchess County. Our coop is a walk in, 8'x16' garden type shed and half is for our egg layers and half is for the silkies. We have our lights turned on 9am to 9pm for this darkest time of the year. Since the temps have plummeted, we just installed a heat lamp for the silkies to snuggle under, if needed. When the timer goes off, the heat lamp (red bulb) stays on and gives a glow to the coop. So, the birds are not thrust into darkness. It does look funny for folks who drive by our home and see a red light on in the shed...

Yeah well I used to do that too, but we have Wild Turkeys here and the young toms kept knocking on the door in the middle of the night.

 

[rancher hicks]

2 decadent suppers, lobster last night, prime rib tonight... I'll be asleep by 8 o'clock. I missed midnight last night by over an hour... I'm not accustomed to rich food...lol, nor do I ever rarely make it to midnight most nights... I had to work today, but it was good, nice day weatherwise...but another day I missed with the gang, got home after dark to pat them goodnight on their roosts. I don't use lights, but mine are all Spring hens, so they are laying this year without needing extra light. I have chicks now, so they will lay all next winter... the winter of 2014 will likely be my first year with something special, like quality BR's, hopefully Good Shepherd line if I'm fortunate. but that would only be at trio, so 2 pullets laying... I'm thinking that I would like to give them a break, and not add the light... but perhaps, egg customers 2 years down the line will be distressed at the decrease...the only thing that they have is a heated waterer. and I have to run a lead cord from the garage. 30 feet from the back door, is a detached one car garage. right next to it is the "little woods", an oval of pine trees, the family before had a picnic table in there... I will build a new large coop off of the side of the garage this Spring, and move the dome into the "little woods". there is a little less natural light in the trees, but it's so well protected from the weather, I'm a little annoyed with myself for not building the dome there in the first place. I will change it, and make room for more birds in the future. my better half wants pheasants and pea fowl... who am I to say no...? lol

Pictures please? Not of the food either, we eat that stuff everyday of the week. At least that's what I imagine our hot dogs and box macaroni and cheese is.

 

[rancher hicks]

So why exactly do I need roosters???
My Henry is really not doing well today/tonight. When I went out this afternoon he was huddled, laying down underneath the nest boxes. When I shut out the lights, he did get up to go roost but didn't have the strength to fly up. I picked him up to set him up there and he's lost a lot of his body weight in just the last few days. I figured maybe he could spend one last night with his girls. I will be surprised if he makes it until morning.

I have 1 BA roo that is just plain old mean and sets off the other BA roo (who hasn't started mating yet but they are the same age). BA roo #1 even gets mad if my EE roo mates with a hen, and then they both seem to beat up on her.
Which really makes me wonder... should I go without roosters at all?

I am sorry for your trouble which is why I try not to name my birds nor become attached. Though I still do. Some things just can't be helped. As was stated rooster can be a help. Especially if you run a closed flock.

Lord knows I'm going through it now with a couple of hens from chicks I bought. Not one of which will be used for breeding. Unfortunately folks who baby their birds don't always have the sturdiest stock when put in normal conditions like a cold winter. IMO heat just adds to the cost of keeping chickens and increases the cost of each egg. Might as well buy from someone else and save money. Except of course I know what MY birds are eating.

Try not to feel to bad. Chickens can succumb for many reasons and some just like us it's bad genes. I would quarantine him just in case.

 

[Framac]

Happy new year to all. Here is to a successful year of our chickens continuing to train us

 

[SunnysideupstateNY]

Happy New Years everyone! I hope everyone stays healthy but that chicken math afflicts you!

Chickprincess - I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Henry. How old is he?
Buddy is definitely the boss of the coop now. He took the girls out on new years eve to run around on the white stuff. He's trying to crow - makes the movements, but no sound. It's funny to watch. Duck, the one behind him, is his main...chick.

They got some warm oatmeal the other morning.

 

[Aria]

HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

THANKS FOR REMINDING ME...WARM OATMEAL
IS ALWAYS WELCOMED AT OUR BARN.

 

[ChickPrincess]

Sunnyside, Henry is this year's chick. A TSC around Easter time.
Other than weight loss, the only other visible sign that he's ill is that his comb is partially gray. I'm assuming frostbite since he's not able to move around and be warm. I am new to chickens, but nothing feels wrong to me.
I did start them on ACV about a week before he got sick. They get layer crumble and many leftovers. Never thought about vitamins.
I have brought him into our basement in a dog kennel. Hoping the warmth might get him going a bit. I also didn't want the other chickens to pick on him if he's dying. If he's going to go, at least he can go in peace.
What stinks is that he is the best rooster. Perfectly behaved. Did everything a rooster should, and was so gentle with the girls. I'm surprised he's still with us at this point.
I do want to keep 1 or 2 roosters. I'm just very frustrated with their behavior right now. MEN! Sorry guys...

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Chickprincess--sorry to hear about Henry. Sometimes there is no answer. I lost my hen Trouble a month ago and am not sure why. I dont tolerate mean roos, whether they are mean to me or to the rest of the flock. We ate all our problem roos. I remind the boys of that when they get that look in their eye. My roos are great watchers and protectors of the flock and are good to their girls. I am keeping them for protection purposes and breeding so I dont have to buy any more chicks from anywhere. I can just replenish what I need from my own stock.

Rancher--you crack me up!

Gave everyone some nice hot leftover soup and roast beef au jus. I think they all appreciated the nice warm meal before bed although it was hard to tell as it dissappeared that quick! All 4 coops enjoyed their dinner. Almost froze filling up all the waterers and feeders and turning over litter, etc. At least they are all set for tomorrow. Still trying to figure out how to keep my silkie waterers from freezing. No room for a heater. I hope it warms up soon.

 

[marquisella]

Sunnyside, Henry is this year's chick. A TSC around Easter time.
Other than weight loss, the only other visible sign that he's ill is that his comb is partially gray. I'm assuming frostbite since he's not able to move around and be warm. I am new to chickens, but nothing feels wrong to me.
I did start them on ACV about a week before he got sick. They get layer crumble and many leftovers. Never thought about vitamins.
I have brought him into our basement in a dog kennel. Hoping the warmth might get him going a bit. I also didn't want the other chickens to pick on him if he's dying. If he's going to go, at least he can go in peace.
What stinks is that he is the best rooster. Perfectly behaved. Did everything a rooster should, and was so gentle with the girls. I'm surprised he's still with us at this point.
I do want to keep 1 or 2 roosters. I'm just very frustrated with their behavior right now. MEN! Sorry guys...

A grey comb or blue comb usually means a lack of oxygen due to a respiratory problem. Frost bite makes the combs black.