rooster stopped crowing and hens stopped laying

[swindlechick]

Ok so within the past week my game rooster has stopped laying and mating. He's about 18 months-2 years old. There are no visible problems; he is still eating and drinking and walking around fine. The only difference is no mating(that I have witnessed) and no crowing.
Also, my two game hens have stopped laying. At first I thought they were broody, but they aren't staying on the nests. Something did get in the run about 5 days ago, but they were safe in their coop. I expected a day or two delay on eggs after them being scared but now they're not even pushing the straw around in their nest boxes.
Any ideas what's going on?
Thanks in advance.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I had a beagle get in and terrorize the chickens. They wouldn't come outside for a week and I went 2 months without eggs from that coop.

Are they on layer feed? If so, that could be the problem with the rooster. At that age, he could have kidney stones, gout, decreased sperm motility and even calcium deposits in the heart and other tissues

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20434855

 

[swindlechick]

I give them layer pellets and offer crushed egg shells free choice. I also sprinkle black oil sunflowers seeds and high protein puppy food(please no one attack me for this) every two days as a treat. I give them weeds I pull out of the garden and grass clippings(no our yard is not treated with chemicals). They have access to clean water at all times, except at night when they are put up.
I just went to try to catch him to check him out a little better. He is moving slower than normal and his poop was very watery. I still was unable to catch him, though. His comb and wattle are still bright red and his eyes(from what I can tell) are clear.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

This isn't about attacking you but there are two rooster related things in the diet that stand out to me.

If the puppy food's first couple ingredients are animal protein that is a good thing because of a more complete complex of amino acids. However, roosters don't need a lot of protein and must process excess by the liver and kidneys. About 14 or 15% is sufficient for a rooster to maintain good health. Your layer feed is probably 16-17% protein. Adding the puppy food which may be ok for hens in production or molting, it's probably too much for the rooster.

The second thing is that roosters and other birds not actively laying shouldn't be getting more than 2% calcium and 1% (which is the content of non-layer feeds).

IMHO, the combination of excess calcium and excess protein is too much for longevity of a rooster. A lot of people claim they have no problem feeding layer to roosters but they don't get a necropsy when the rooster dies and don't put 2+2 together.

In broiler breeder flocks, roosters die at 4 times the rate of hens and the problem is excess calcium.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/2337/urolithiasis-in-male-broiler-breeders

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12530920

http://www.agbiosecurity.ca/healthy...m and Vitamin D3 problems in laying birds.pdf

http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/early/2011/06/13/REP-11-0131.full.pdf

Excessive protein can cause articular gout and excessive calcium can caus visceral gout.

 

[swindlechick]

Thanks for all the information!! I always wondered about the effect of roosters eating layer feed. How would you suggest I feed him separately? I can't catch him and don't have material to build another pen.

 

[swindlechick]

I'm thinking the not laying may be a ventilation and lack of water at night problem. So I'm going to add a couple of windows and a waterer in the coop today.

 

[mortie]

Mine wouldn't drink water at night even if there was a waterer in the coop. It's not like they would get off the roost in the dark to get a drink. They get up a little earlier than I do but I can't imagine an hour or so would make much difference. Perhaps your setup is different than mine though. I do hope you get things figured out and get your crew perked up again!

 

[swindlechick]

Thanks so much!
Another question....How do I keep them from roosting/pooping in the nesting boxes?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thanks for all the information!! I always wondered about the effect of roosters eating layer feed. How would you suggest I feed him separately? I can't catch him and don't have material to build another pen.

You really can't feed them separately unless you separate them. For those with mixed flocks, switch to an all flock or grower feed and provide oyster shell always for those actively laying.
You can always catch a chicken on the roost at night when they can't see.

I'm thinking the not laying may be a ventilation and lack of water at night problem. So I'm going to add a couple of windows and a waterer in the coop today.

Ventilation is even more important than food and water. Every living thing needs fresh air and chickens are outdoor animals.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

Mine wouldn't drink water at night even if there was a waterer in the coop. It's not like they would get off the roost in the dark to get a drink. They get up a little earlier than I do but I can't imagine an hour or so would make much difference. ...

X2

Thanks so much!
Another question....How do I keep them from roosting/pooping in the nesting boxes?

Roosts need to be significantly higher than nests or they'll sleep in the nests. If they are different elevations, block off the nests at night so they get in the habit of sleeping on roosts.

 

[swindlechick]

Thanks so much, everyone, for your help! I put in four windows and covered them with screen door wire and chicken wire yesterday. I also moved the nesting boxes to about 6 inches above ground level and put some curtains in front of them. When I got finished, I watched them for a little while and they took turns standing in front of the open coop doors and staring. They looked like they didn't like what I did at all but they slept in it so I guess they got over it. I'm gonna hold off on the dog food treats for a couple of weeks and see how mr. roo does. I also added a little apple cider vinegar to their water. Here's hoping things get straightened out soon! Thanks again!