Rooster beak broken, how do I feed him?

[Maggies Momma]

Update on Henry.

It's been 5 days since he lost his beak. We noticed on Monday that he was limping and favoring his left leg. I read a post about a broken leg and setting up their rooster with a sling in a pet kennel to help with the healing. I immediately did the same. The funny thing is that he pulls the bad leg through the sling hole over night and keeps it at his side.

I had begun some hydration treatment with electrolytes in his water and fed him that. He refused mashed up food, so I figured the electrolytes would be just as good since it also has vitamins in it. Over night on Monday, he drank the electrolytes and ate some pellet food. Yayyy.....

I take him out each day and allow him to sit around our yard and enjoy the grass and fresh air.

Yesterday he started lifting his body up off the ground to crow. I was so excited! He is attempting to put weight on the leg, but so far it's selective. I continue to offer him food and electrolytes and follow him around to force him to have some activity.

Today we shall see how he is and perhaps he will be even better. He's still not able to use his beak much as yesterday he couldn't eat chopped up tomato and cucumber. I shared some red grapes with him, but I think it was a little painful to grab onto. He refused the interior fruit, so I squeezed some juice into his mouth which he was more than happy to receive.

Well, I'll give more updates in a few days. As for now, I feel that he is gaining some strength and will be ready to scratch around the yard soon. I pray for this.

 

[Angie8eggs]

Glad Henry is getting better! What ever happened to the other Roosters? Angers me that someone would do that, and one of your chickens had to suffer for their poor choices. Will be hoping and praying for fast healing for your Rooster!

 

[Maggies Momma]

We still have a temporary coop; our original one that has seen better days which we never have time to put it on the burn pile. This is where we put the two roosters. The yard is still fenced so they can't get out. It shares a fence with our current chicken yard, so they don't seem too interested in escaping.
I have an egg customer who comes every Friday. They have been waiting to purchase our hens that we will be culling out soon, so I'm hoping that they will buy the larger of the two (his spurs are big) and come back for the smaller one when it is more mature. I'm hoping to fetch a good price for him which will help pay for the food he has been eating. My last resort for him is to let him loose at the back end of our property and let the coyotes enjoy and good meal. Sad to say, but we can't keep him and no one around our area want's more roosters.

 

[Angie8eggs]

I understand. sometimes we have to do was is easy and best for us.

 

[Maggies Momma]

Hi Ya'll,
I am so happy tonight. One of my regular egg buyers purchased the two roosters when he came to get his eggs. I feel so much relief that I am no longer responsible for them and I'm not wasting money on feed for non producing animals.

Another happy note, Henry looks so much better. He is still kenneled in the chicken coop each night, but he is also drinking plenty of water and eating pellets. He's still not comfortable with veggies yet, but that will come in time. Perhaps I will go pick some raspberries tomorrow and see if he'll eat those. They are one of his favorites next to black berries. His leg is still lame, but he can get around by hopping, putting a little weight on it, and balancing with his wings. The best part is that he is still with us.

Since we still have our original brooder coop and fenced yard, I've decided to put higher fencing around it this weekend, thoroughly clean out the coop, pull the excessively tall weeds and put him in there with a few of his favorite girls. I figure this will allow him to be outside when he wants to be and not cooped up (no pun intended) at night. Also, he won't have to deal with all 36 hens at once and our other rooster Travis, who's a knuckle head.

That's all for now. I'll keep updating as Henry makes greater strides.

Thank you everyone.

 

[Angie8eggs]

Great news all around!!!!

 

[Maggies Momma]

Henry update:
Henry is doing well. My son was so happy to see that he was still around when he came home from summer camp. He's been taking care of Henry every day and notices improvement. Today he's been attempting to stand on his injured leg. His beak is healing well. He allows me to touch it and is learning to eat and drink well. Today I mowed the yard he's been hanging out in and although he was afraid of the mower, he hopped out of the way and seemed to be very happy. I've caught him beginning to cluck with his girls through the field fence and even saw him beginning to pick at bugs in the grass.
On a side note, I noticed today that our other rooster lost the tip of his beak. I guess he fought with the other rooster as well. He is doing great and since there was no severe beak loss and no bleeding, he will just fine. He's also strutting his stuff now.
So, on the rooster front all is well and so far recuperation is going well.

 

[Angie8eggs]

Great to hear! Thanks for the update!

 

[Maggies Momma]

Another update:
Henry is doing well. He is walking better and runs fast when Travis our barred rock rooster chases him. Pure jealously I say. The girls are very happy to have Henry back. The first night he was placed in the main yard, both roosters seemed to be having a contest on how many hens they could mount before going to bed. One even ran right over to Henry for her turn.

They really missed him. He's been with the flock now for about two weeks now. He eats and drinks really well and loves the spoiling he gets from me, especially fresh home grown squash.

Travis still chases Henry around the yard, but I feel that it has been a blessing. Henry's leg seems to be healing well and I think the grasping reflex is coming back. He insists on roosting with the girls in his original spot and seems to do well. At least he's not falling off anymore.

I've been spraying Vetericyn on his leg too as it had begun to swell and blister. The Vetericyn is amazing. Within a day, the swelling began to reduce and the blisters are gone.

Our family keeps a close watch on Henry and when we don't see him in the yard, we get concerned, but always seem to find him relaxing, surrounded by the girls.

 

[Haunted55]

Another update:
Henry is doing well. He is walking better and runs fast when Travis our barred rock rooster chases him. Pure jealously I say. The girls are very happy to have Henry back. The first night he was placed in the main yard, both roosters seemed to be having a contest on how many hens they could mount before going to bed. One even ran right over to Henry for her turn.

They really missed him. He's been with the flock now for about two weeks now. He eats and drinks really well and loves the spoiling he gets from me, especially fresh home grown squash.

Travis still chases Henry around the yard, but I feel that it has been a blessing. Henry's leg seems to be healing well and I think the grasping reflex is coming back. He insists on roosting with the girls in his original spot and seems to do well. At least he's not falling off anymore.

I've been spraying Vetericyn on his leg too as it had begun to swell and blister. The Vetericyn is amazing. Within a day, the swelling began to reduce and the blisters are gone.

Our family keeps a close watch on Henry and when we don't see him in the yard, we get concerned, but always seem to find him relaxing, surrounded by the girls.

I am so happy this has turned out well for you and Henry! It just plain amazes me that someone would really think you'd want or never notice their unwanted roosters. That's just rotten.

Good luck!