Rooster Lethargic with Watery Poop and Dark Comb

[black_fleet]

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.

Yeah, I was over-complicating things in my head hehe, that is much easier to manage.

 

[Shadrach]

I just love this thread.

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?

It is best and 3 or 4 ladies with your rooster sounds perfect. That's pretty much how it is here except I did persuade them (4 different groups) that the coops I built weren't such a bad thing eventually.

If you're going to feed them a commercial feed, you can get a flock raiser or similar.
The important points are: 18% to 20% protein, 1% calcium. Everybody can eat this, roosters, senior don't lay much these days hens, pullets and cockerels.
Obviously, if they've managed for 25 years without a commercial feed, oyster shell, bags of grit, etc they'll probably carry on managing.
The chickens here free range and I do feed them a feed like mentioned above. I would suggest feeding them the commercial feed just once a day. Put the feed down for them, let them eat for 15min or so and pick the feed up again. This way they will still forage and get what else they need from the land. If you keep commercial feed availible all day, not only are you likely to get rodent problems they will also stop foraging as much and they need the stuff they get foraging more than they do the commercial feed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yeah, I was over-complicating things in my head hehe, that is much easier to manage.

LOL I do that too! I'm constantly re-thinking things - but you know, you learn a lot of stuff along the way

If you're going to feed them a commercial feed, you can get a flock raiser or similar.
The important points are: 18% to 20% protein, 1% calcium. Everybody can eat this, roosters, senior don't lay much these days hens, pullets and cockerels.

I agree to this. I am currently using a different pelleted "all flock" feed, but Flock Raiser is what I normally use especially when I have chicks. It's in crumbles so chicks to adults can eat this no problem. At 20% protein it's a good all around feed.

 

[black_fleet]

Alright, he's made it to another sunset.

He ate around 1/4-1/2 cup of straight bird seed throughout the day and drank a good bit of water. The poop was quite the mess since it was two days worth, so I didn't get any pictures of the latest. However, it remained fairly firm throughout the day, though the coconut oil seems to make it watery at times (or perhaps it's something else?). The color is still the same, nothing to report there. I also setup a 'tray' under his cage so its easier to clean regularly and know which is new and which isn't (poop).

He was up and awake most of the day too, with only a couple of light naps (though who is to blame him, stuck inside all day).

Overall I'd say he's at least hanging in there for now, and it's thanks to everyone who has given me advice so far. Thank you all so much! I will post some more updates tomorrow.

EDIT: I haven't started the Corid yet, but will get it to the whole flock tomorrow, as well as some grit and oyster shell stations in the coop. Going to worm the entire flock in the coming days just to be safe as well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Alright, he's made it to another sunset.

He ate around 1/4-1/2 cup of straight bird seed throughout the day and drank a good bit of water. The poop was quite the mess since it was two days worth, so I didn't get any pictures of the latest. However, it remained fairly firm throughout the day, though the coconut oil seems to make it watery at times (or perhaps it's something else?). The color is still the same, nothing to report there. I also setup a 'tray' under his cage so its easier to clean regularly and know which is new and which isn't (poop).

He was up and awake most of the day too, with only a couple of light naps (though who is to blame him, stuck inside all day).

Overall I'd say he's at least hanging in there for now, and it's thanks to everyone who has given me advice so far. Thank you all so much! I will post some more updates tomorrow.

EDIT: I haven't started the Corid yet, but will get it to the whole flock tomorrow, as well as some grit and oyster shell stations in the coop. Going to worm the entire flock in the coming days just to be safe as well.

Were you able to get some feed? For a crop issue, I would probably not give seed since it has to be processed more finely. If you only have layer feed, make a wet mash out of that or cook him up an egg. Mine love egg.
Yes, that coconut oil will make for some loose stool, so if you are seeing some firm poop while giving him the oil, that's good. The color is concerning.

Thank you for the update.

 

[black_fleet]

Were you able to get some feed? For a crop issue, I would probably not give seed since it has to be processed more finely. If you only have layer feed, make a wet mash out of that or cook him up an egg. Mine love egg.
Yes, that coconut oil will make for some loose stool, so if you are seeing some firm poop while giving him the oil, that's good. The color is concerning.

Thank you for the update.

Unfortunately it wasn't possible for me to get to town today, but I will have it in hand tomorrow. I had given him the mash from the layer crumble but overall he didn't eat much of it over the course of the first day and this morning (like probably not even a few tablespoons worth). I guess I should have consulted about the bird seed, but I was worried about continuing to feed the layer crumble after finding out about the toxicity of calcium in roosters. The scrambled egg slipped my mind in between doing everything else as well.

 

[Eggcessive]

For what it is worth, I have fed my roosters layer feed for 80% of their lives, since I have laying hens. They have never had any problems with the extra calcium. They eat all flock/flock raiser now because only one hen lays anymore. When I raised chicks, I also stopped the layer.

 

[black_fleet]

For what it is worth, I have fed my roosters layer feed for 80% of their lives, since I have laying hens. They have never had any problems with the extra calcium. They eat all flock/flock raiser now because only one hen lays anymore. When I raised chicks, I also stopped the layer.

Well that is somewhat comforting at least, I am really hoping I didn't unintentionally poison him via the feed Going to pick up some of the Purina flock raiser tomorrow along with the rest of the stuff on the list.

 

[Kiki]

Bird seed is not a complete feed, if it is what I am thinking it is.
Treat it like a treat and don't offer a lot of it.

 

[black_fleet]

Bird seed is not a complete feed, if it is what I am thinking it is.
Treat it like a treat and don't offer a lot of it.

What I was using was bird seed mixed with things like sunflower seeds and other types of large seed varieties. Normally I would never give them this stuff.