ROOSTER laying down...not moving

[chicknmania]

You can refrigerate the carcass but the fresher it is the better the results. I've had a bird that I felt was beyond my help euthanized by T he same people who did the necropsy..sometimes they will do that for you. It's too bad but unfortunately it does happen occasionally to all of us. Sorry you are having to go through this. Sometimes though there can be nice surprises so just do your best to keep him comfortable..he might improve.

 

[Peaky]

thanks for your kind words. And thanks for the info about necropsy

 

[Peaky]

I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

[chicknmania]

OK, good luck with him. Where there's life, there's hope. Make sure he's eating and (especially) getting fluids. I've found that sick birds really like small breadcrumbs soaked in buttermilk, and/ or applesauce. Or minced grapes.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi
I would second what the others have said. The only thing I would like to add is that these juveniles will be getting their hormones now and that changes the whole dynamic of how they interact. Think a house full of teenagers with no adults to keep them in check..... it can get unpleasant. If they are free ranged it will work better, but if they are penned, then if one of them starts getting picked on, they have no where to get away and all the birds will sometimes target an apparently weak bird, just like bullies in the playground. Your problem is too many males and with no older birds to keep them in check, things are going to get unpleasant. Even if the males don't fight with each other, they will competitively mate the pullets and make their lives a misery and risk injuring them. Young cockerels have all the hormones but no technique when it comes to mating, so they will forcefully grab a pullet when she is not ready to mate and hold her down whilst they take turns to mount her. Sometimes the pullet will be so desperate to get away, she will get scalped or she can get leg, hip and back injuries and the stress of being repeatedly mated in this manner will also leave her immune system low and vulnerable to viruses.
In contrast, mature roosters will find tit bits of food for their ladies, dance around them and wait for the hen to squat and invite him to mate with her. By squatting, the hen spreads her weight close to the ground and is therefore more balanced to carry the roosters weight without injury.
If I were you, I would reduce your number of males to one or at least create a bachelor coop and pen for the males, otherwise this may not be the last of the sick and injured birds you need to deal with. The boys should get along fine in a bachelor pad although there may be some squabbles. The pullets will be far happier without them at this difficult age. It is not natural for young males and females to come of age together. An adult rooster would run off the young males when their hormones kicked in and protect the pullets and there would also be mature hens in a mixed flock that could put the young cocks in their place. You need to become the flock leader by removing those adolescent boys and protecting the pullets.
I'm afraid I too think your sick bird may have Marek's Disease and if so, then you need to reduce the stress within the flock, as that often triggers an outbreak of it. Too many cockerels running around creating havoc in the flock is one of the primary causes of an outbreak in my experience.

 

[chicknmania]

That is true about the cockerels. Our flock free ranges, they have a very big pole barn which is all theirs to spread out in in inclement weather, and at night, and of course during the nice weather they have acres to spread out in. And we have older male roosters as well as the cockerels and there is definitely an undisputed alpha rooster, so it does work out the way it was described above. Our peafowl will also break up unwanted mating scenarios, and fighting, amongst the chickens, which is funny to see, lol. Our situation might be different. But lots of people have bachelor pads for their extra males and that seems to work fine.

 

[Peaky]

Thank you everyone for your replies. My chicken are free range, but whatever the case, my rooster died the night i wrote the post. I will be much for aware of roosters....or should I say more then one. I now have two, but since the one died, Ihave put the rooster and his mate in a separate cage by themselves and the other rooster runs free with his 5 hens. I have a lot to learn about chickens, but hopefully with easier lessons.

 

[rebrascora]

You would be better putting the two males together somewhere away from the females. A lone pullet in with an adolescent cockerel will most likely get a really hard time from him. He will want to mate her all day, every day once his hormones kick in and she will at the very least get bald spots on her shoulders back and neck from his constant attention. Pairs can work, but it's not a good idea when the male is an adolescent. Far better to put the boys in a bachelor pad together away from the girls. If you are hoping that the cockerel will provide some sort of protection for the girls you will most likely be disappointed. They are usually too hormone driven to be paying enough attention to possible predators.
It is of course your decision, but do keep a close eye on the one pullet that is in with the other cockerel for signs of over mating, injury and depression if you leave things as they are. Hidden injuries under their wings can happen as a result of the cockerel slipping and nails or spurs gashing them as well as bald and sore spots on the shoulders and neck, so do check her regularly.

 

[casportpony]

For anyone in California reading this thread:

We have four necropsy labs in California. If you're close to Davis, Turlock, Tulare, or San Bernadino you can drop them off. Necropsy fee for 1-2 birds is $20. If you aren't close you can use their fedex number and overnight them. for less than $20.

This is how I ship mine:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures.799747/

Here is the California submission form:
http://cahfs.ucdavis.edu/local_resources/pdfs/submission forms/StandardSubmissionForm_11-16_BYF.pdf