Rooster acting weird!?!

[doodlebug0310]

@Chickassan that's sort of pitiful, but funny too! Love the description.
I don't know how this breed is "made" so wonder if they are prone to neurological issues like Crested birds?

@doodlebug0310 Do you mix the cracked corn with the layer feed? If you do, then stop that Make the layer feed available free choice and give a very small amount of cracked corn as a treat. What happens if you mix other things with the feed, it dilutes the nutritional content, usually bringing the protein percentage down. Birds are also likely to just pick out the corn (like candy) and not eat the layer, so they can end up nutritionally deficient.

I do mix it but it's very very very diluted with small amounts of corn. I was only even adding corn to help them stay warm at night. Supposedly, digesting corn takes longer and helps them heat their body. They have layer feed available 24/7 in different locations along with free ranging all day. He's just too stupid to eat. That's why I've taken to physically throwing out food in multiple locations. Bless it.... he's incredibly stupid.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I do mix it but it's very very very diluted with small amounts of corn. I was only even adding corn to help them stay warm at night. Supposedly, digesting corn takes longer and helps them heat their body. They have layer feed available 24/7 in different locations along with free ranging all day. He's just too stupid to eat. That's why I've taken to physically throwing out food in multiple locations. Bless it.... he's incredibly stupid.

I don't know if you need a hug or a good laugh

I would bring him aside every day for a few minutes. Get some poultry vitamins into him and offer him food. Try a wet mash out of his regular feed, you can put bits of egg in it to entice him.
Him being thin is concerning. Do you have a scale? Can you weigh him so you have a baseline weight, then weigh once a week to see if he's gaining, losing or staying the same.

 

[doodlebug0310]

I don't know if you need a hug or a good laugh

I would bring him aside every day for a few minutes. Get some poultry vitamins into him and offer him food. Try a wet mash out of his regular feed, you can put bits of egg in it to entice him.
Him being thin is concerning. Do you have a scale? Can you weigh him so you have a baseline weight, then weigh once a week to see if he's gaining, losing or staying the same.

I do have a scale that I can use. My girls go out there daily and feed him and keep the hens away so he can eat in peace . I've tried giving all my birds leftover food/ veggies and they won't eat it. In all rights our chickens are fairly spoiled. I just don't know what his issue is.

 

[Chickassan]

Chickasson I don't have any issues with my frizzle hen. The hens that lay don't pick on him anymore. My polish is SUPER mean to basically everything. He is the weirdest rooster. He would HAVE to go to a home with younger bantams.

Don't know if you're down with this or not simply because I don't know how attached you are to either bird. My honest opinion if you want to keep him you may need to rehome the Polish which would be so easy it is crazy. They are nut birds, anyone who loves the breed don't get mad you know i'm right, you may always have issues with her. They are unique, a joy to look at but man can they ever be trouble!

@Chickassan that's sort of pitiful, but funny too! Love the description.
I don't know how this breed is "made" so wonder if they are prone to neurological issues like Crested birds?

@doodlebug0310 Do you mix the cracked corn with the layer feed? If you do, then stop that Make the layer feed available free choice and give a very small amount of cracked corn as a treat. What happens if you mix other things with the feed, it dilutes the nutritional content, usually bringing the protein percentage down. Birds are also likely to just pick out the corn (like candy) and not eat the layer, so they can end up nutritionally deficient.

Pitiful is an understatement, i'd find him facing the coop corner like a naughty child several times a day. All the hens mounted him, they wouldn't let him eat, pushed him off the roost and pooped on him. I finally just brought him in before he had a nervous breakdown. His only ally was the faverolles rooster, at the time he was just a boy so he didn't want a scoop of what Fonzie was getting so he'd run when things got ugly.

 

[doodlebug0310]

Definitely don't want to rehome my polish. I really don't want to rehome the rooster either. I have 3 hens for each of my children. We go through eggs like it's nobody's business, and I'd have more chickens but we live in a subdivision. The 4 we have are perfect for the space we have in the backyard ( 1/2 an acre). My hope is that my polish will act friendlier once she starts laying like the other two hens have done. I've never met a meaner hen! I wasn't familiar enough with that breed when we bought her. I thought she was super cute. She's my only hen not laying yet. I have a polish frizzle hen but she's not nearly as mean as the smooth polish I have. Are polish notorious for being mean? I'd hate to see a polish roo! My hen will chase squirrels out the backyard and our rat terrier!

 

[doodlebug0310]

We've named the pitiful rooster in question "Tiny". Fortunately, Tiny is a very fast runner. He usually runs off when the hens are being ugly.

 

[Chickassan]

They aren't mean persay, they're wierd. They can't see well which either leads them to be agressive or insanely skittish. I'm crossing my fingers she gets nicer when she lays, maybe you can trim her crest a little and see if a clear POV sweetens her tude.

Definitely don't want to rehome my polish. I really don't want to rehome the rooster either. I have 3 hens for each of my children. We go through eggs like it's nobody's business, and I'd have more chickens but we live in a subdivision. The 4 we have are perfect for the space we have in the backyard ( 1/2 an acre). My hope is that my polish will act friendlier once she starts laying like the other two hens have done. I've never met a meaner hen! I wasn't familiar enough with that breed when we bought her. I thought she was super cute. She's my only hen not laying yet. I have a polish frizzle hen but she's not nearly as mean as the smooth polish I have. Are polish notorious for being mean? I'd hate to see a polish roo! My hen will chase squirrels out the backyard and our rat terrier!

 

[doodlebug0310]

We tried putting her crest lightly in a ponytail and the other hens freaked out and attacked her. I'll try trimming it instead. They acted like she was a brand new chicken in their territory.

 

[Chickassan]

Omg! That is beyond adoreable, she looks like a bratty teenager.

We tried putting her crest lightly in a ponytail and the other hens freaked out and attacked her. I'll try trimming it instead. They acted like she was a brand new chicken in their territory. View attachment 1629443

 

[doodlebug0310]

She is! At least she's sweet to us. It's somewhat humorous to see her chase squirrels and our dog.