Rooster Lethargic with Watery Poop and Dark Comb

[Eggcessive]

Is this it?

 

[black_fleet]

Is this it? View attachment 1664167

Yes that's the one!

 

[Shadrach]

I may be completely wrong, but here green poop, dark combs, lethargic and possibly disoriented has meant liver and/or heart problems.
Some of the possible causes for the darkening of the comb (here they've gone purple) is nitrate poisoning. This can sometimes happen where flocks have access to farm fields that have been recently treated with fertilizers. I think this is fairly rare but used to happen in the UK with some free range flocks.
Heart problems are quite common and often genetic. There are treatments such as beta blockers but I don't know anyone who has any experience of using these medications.
Here, when roosters have had similar symptoms to those you describe it's been liver failure.
The research I've done leads me to believe that this has been caused by too much calcium in the commercially supplied feed. Bear in mind the roosters here free range so even with foraging the calcium in layers feed was enough to kill them over a long period of time.
I may be completely wrong but it is worth checking the feed for calcium content. Anything above say 1.5% can give liver problems over the long term.

 

[Shadrach]

Okay, it's a layers crumble and that isn't good for roosters.
I'm going to guess your poor chap has liver damage.
I'm afraid there is nothing you can do if this is the case.
I kept mine as comfortable as possible until their quality of life was severely impaired and then killed them.
As it says on the bag, the feed is for laying hens. Roosters need a different feed.
I do hope I'm wrong.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

In the twenty five years I've kept chickens, I've never had problems.

Yes that's the one!

@black_fleet is this what you have been using for several years or is it something new to you?
Excess calcium can damage the kidneys, liver and internal organs. A lot of people do feed layer feed to their roosters and have no problems, while others have run into problems, especially with kidney failure or gout.

What you feed is up to you, do your research to find what you think is best. One thing I did notice it that you mix corn with your feed. Sometimes bird will pick out what they like best (Corn!) and don't eat the nutritionally balanced feed that is provided. Since yours free-range as well, I would provide the feed free choice, then in the evening, scatter some of the scratch/corn as a treat to encourage topping off crop fill. This way your birds have gotten most of their nutrition from balanced feed and forage. I'm sure other's will have suggestions as well, these are my thoughts.
You've been doing this for 25yrs, so you've been doing something right all these years.

 

[black_fleet]

I may be completely wrong, but here green poop, dark combs, lethargic and possibly disoriented has meant liver and/or heart problems.
Some of the possible causes for the darkening of the comb (here they've gone purple) is nitrate poisoning. This can sometimes happen where flocks have access to farm fields that have been recently treated with fertilizers. I think this is fairly rare but used to happen in the UK with some free range flocks.
Heart problems are quite common and often genetic. There are treatments such as beta blockers but I don't know anyone who has any experience of using these medications.
Here, when roosters have had similar symptoms to those you describe it's been liver failure.
The research I've done leads me to believe that this has been caused by too much calcium in the commercially supplied feed. Bear in mind the roosters here free range so even with foraging the calcium in layers feed was enough to kill them over a long period of time.
I may be completely wrong but it is worth checking the feed for calcium content. Anything above say 1.5% can give liver problems over the long term.

Thank you for all of the information. I was unaware that roosters shouldn't eat the crumble, but it hadn't seemed to cause me problems in the past ~1.5 years or so. Funnily enough, we used to joke that our other rooster (The Emperor) would ignore any of the crumble or corn and only eat from the fields. Now I see there may have been more behind that I thought.

As far as fertilizers go, I don't believe that would be a problem here. I live on a medium sized farm, but I don't use any fertilizers or anything pretty much. Just good ol' nature.

I am deeply disappointed to find out that I may have been the cause of his illness, and I dearly hope he pulls through

 

[black_fleet]

@black_fleet is this what you have been using for several years or is it something new to you?
Excess calcium can damage the kidneys, liver and internal organs. A lot of people do feed layer feed to their roosters and have no problems, while others have run into problems, especially with kidney failure or gout.

What you feed is up to you, do your research to find what you think is best. One thing I did notice it that you mix corn with your feed. Sometimes bird will pick out what they like best (Corn!) and don't eat the nutritionally balanced feed that is provided. Since yours free-range as well, I would provide the feed free choice, then in the evening, scatter some of the scratch/corn as a treat to encourage topping off crop fill. This way your birds have gotten most of their nutrition from balanced feed and forage. I'm sure other's will have suggestions as well, these are my thoughts.
You've been doing this for 25yrs, so you've been doing something right all these years.

As a matter of fact, before this flock, we mostly just let them eat out of the fields with pretty much no feed given. It's only in the last ~1.5 years that we started giving them feed added to their diet.

I think that your suggestion about letting them feed from the land in the day and then providing them with extra if needed in the evening is the way I will approach things in the future.

I immediately removed his slurry which was made with the layers crumble and gave him regular bird seed, and let me tell you, he sure dug into it. I'll pick up some different feed for the roosters.

 

[black_fleet]

Also, I always thought it best to let the roosters roost with their respective ladies in their 'coops' (The Emperor [the other rooster] actually sleeps in a tree with four of the hens). Is it odd to lock the roosters up separate from the hens to ensure that the feed they receive is the type appropriate for them?

 

[SixNolans]

Alright, since the last post he has pooped again, and it doesn't look great. It's still very watery, some parts milky white, others dark algae green, and I swear I see some long stringy matter, but not 100 percent sure.

He may have gut infection. Try probiotics. If he’s only drinking and not eating his tummy may be upset for whatever reason. Certainly sounds like you do great with your flock. Others on the forum may know more. But I have used probiotics for the Turkeys I had and it seems to help. Hope your lil Governor feels better soon.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

As a matter of fact, before this flock, we mostly just let them eat out of the fields with pretty much no feed given. It's only in the last ~1.5 years that we started giving them feed added to their diet.

I think that your suggestion about letting them feed from the land in the day and then providing them with extra if needed in the evening is the way I will approach things in the future.

I immediately removed his slurry which was made with the layers crumble and gave him regular bird seed, and let me tell you, he sure dug into it. I'll pick up some different feed for the roosters.

Also, I always thought it best to let the roosters roost with their respective ladies in their 'coops' (The Emperor actually sleeps in a tree with four of the hens). Is it odd to lock the roosters up separate from the hens to ensure that the feed they receive is the type appropriate for them?

Well, I let my fella roost with the ladies. I feed an all flock type feed that can be eaten by any age group from chicks to adults so I don't worry about keeping separate feeds.
Oyster shell is provided free choice for the hens, they take what they need.