Rooster With Leg Tremors

[Mimi13]

He might bee too good for this world, like my Limpy: He leaves all the good stuff for the girls and only eats a cat-kibble here and there, i literally have to stuff it in his bill, otherwise he calls in the girls instead of eating it himself.

Rusty is a wonderful rooster! All I had had were the bad ones and I wanted one soooo bad I kept trying — much to my DH’s dismay! After his big go-round and attack from my Welsummer (Rusty’s father), I thought my rooster-wanting days were over! But I prevailed!

I have not noticed RalphieDux displaying the food call for the ducks before. However, when I take them their duck soup at lock up time, he does stand there rasping away while the four girls gobble it all up. I just figured he was afraid of getting mauled by the overly ravenous Petey and crew! I’m going to start paying more attention to his behavior out in the yard! Unfortunately, his bad behavior of chasing my chickens has consumed me!

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

Rusty is a wonderful rooster! All I had had were the bad ones and I wanted one soooo bad I kept trying — much to my DH’s dismay! After his big go-round and attack from my Welsummer (Rusty’s father), I thought my rooster-wanting days were over! But I prevailed!

I have not noticed RalphieDux displaying the food call for the ducks before. However, when I take them their duck soup at lock up time, he does stand there rasping away while the four girls gobble it all up. I just figured he was afraid of getting mauled by the overly ravenous Petey and crew! I’m going to start paying more attention to his behavior out in the yard! Unfortunately, his bad behavior of chasing my chickens has consumed me!

Almost all my older drakes here stand guard when the girls are eating and they all rasp to each other and bring anything they see to the other's attention. That's what i say to every duck owner: You need some drakes if you let the ducks roam free. The drakes are the watchtowers against predators.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for all the information you’ve given me. I truly am utterly amazed at his rebound. Like Hillbilly asked earlier, what do you think could have been the cause of this? He was a little over 20 months old when I noticed it and he ate the Purina Flock Raiser.

He may not be eating very well at times. Good roosters "feed" their ladies.
You may need to check his crop to see if he's filling up at night - at least a couple of times a week.
Could be something developmental, hard to know, but hopefully he will recover and have no more issues.

 

[Mimi13]

He may not be eating very well at times. Good roosters "feed" their ladies.
You may need to check his crop to see if he's filling up at night - at least a couple of times a week.
Could be something developmental, hard to know, but hopefully he will recover and have no more issues.

How funny you mention that because I do feel his crop at night when I do a head count and lock them up. (This is one of my favorite times as I have them all captive at once and they have no choice but to listen to their mother. ) I do walk along the roosts feeling crops, talking, petting and even kissing some. Yeah, I’m weird like that, but I’m okay with my level of weirdness.

Back to Rusty — his crop pales in comparison to the girls’ packed, tennis ball size crops and I’ve wondered about that. It has always been that way. I do see him come in to the run and eat with the girls right before roosting; however - I’m thinking out loud here - since about September he has been preoccupied with protecting the hens (inside and outside the run) from the very randy, sex-seeking cockerel, more so now than ever. He keeps Dooley run off as best he can as it’s that time of the day that Dooley has more of a choice of all of Rusty’s girls, all gathered preening, eating and drinking. (This is another of my favorite times. I just like to sit and watch them all.)

I honestly just thought that the males must not pack as much feed in. What do I need to do to insure Rusty’s good nutrition? I wish I had realized this might be a problem earlier, but these are the things that come with experience and that’s why I’m so thankful for all the advice I’ve received on BYC.

I do have to mention one more thing though. I hope I was not premature in thinking the vitamins were working because yesterday I noticed more of the tremor than I saw the day before, about 3-5 seconds worth of shaking at times. But, that is still much better than it used to be. I guess I got a little overly anxious. Today will be his 5th dose of the two vitamins.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

however - I’m thinking out loud here - since about September he has been preoccupied with protecting the hens (inside and outside the run) from the very randy, sex-seeking cockerel, more so now than ever. He keeps Dooley run off as best he can as it’s that time of the day that Dooley has more of a choice of all of Rusty’s girls

I honestly just thought that the males must not pack as much feed in. What do I need to do to insure Rusty’s good nutrition?

Ahhh...so there's another male. Do they all free range together or?
Stress of keeping the cockerel at bay may also be contribute to some of his symptoms or at the end of the day he may just be more tired and it shows up.
Separation of the cockerel may be a solution. Everyone's situation is different for sure. Some folks have no issues with a couple of males together. The fowl I keep that cannot be done period so I couldn't tell you if it would work out for you or not.

 

[WannaBeHillBilly]

How funny you mention that because I do feel his crop at night when I do a head count and lock them up. (This is one of my favorite times as I have them all captive at once and they have no choice but to listen to their mother. ) I do walk along the roosts feeling crops, talking, petting and even kissing some. Yeah, I’m weird like that, but I’m okay with my level of weirdness.

Back to Rusty — his crop pales in comparison to the girls’ packed, tennis ball size crops and I’ve wondered about that. It has always been that way. I do see him come in to the run and eat with the girls right before roosting; however - I’m thinking out loud here - since about September he has been preoccupied with protecting the hens (inside and outside the run) from the very randy, sex-seeking cockerel, more so now than ever. He keeps Dooley run off as best he can as it’s that time of the day that Dooley has more of a choice of all of Rusty’s girls, all gathered preening, eating and drinking. (This is another of my favorite times. I just like to sit and watch them all.)

I honestly just thought that the males must not pack as much feed in. What do I need to do to insure Rusty’s good nutrition? I wish I had realized this might be a problem earlier, but these are the things that come with experience and that’s why I’m so thankful for all the advice I’ve received on BYC.

I do have to mention one more thing though. I hope I was not premature in thinking the vitamins were working because yesterday I noticed more of the tremor than I saw the day before, about 3-5 seconds worth of shaking at times. But, that is still much better than it used to be. I guess I got a little overly anxious. Today will be his 5th dose of the two vitamins.

Rusty really sounds like Limpy's chicken brother! Compared to the Runner Girls, Limpy looks slender and fragile (disclaimer he is surprisingly strong and fast!).
Whenever i see him sitting alone in the duck-pool, i sneak up on him and throw a hand full of cat-kibbles into the water. Usually he starts calling for the girls, but then realizes that nobody's around and won't let the food go to waste.
You said you had some alone-time with Rusty when you gave him the vitamins for the first time. I would try to find such alone-time moments with him, so that you can sneak him some additional treats.
It is true that the male birds have less need for food, especially protein, than the females during egg-laying season, but some of them just overdo their humbleness.

 

[Mimi13]

Ahhh...so there's another male. Do they all free range together or?
Stress of keeping the cockerel at bay may also be contribute to some of his symptoms or at the end of the day he may just be more tired and it shows up.
Separation of the cockerel may be a solution. Everyone's situation is different for sure. Some folks have no issues with a couple of males together. The fowl I keep that cannot be done period so I couldn't tell you if it would work out for you or not.

Yes I do have another male that will be a year next month. There has never been any skirmish between the two since he is much younger and knows his place behind Rusty. However, Rusty is constantly running him off if he gets too close to him or the majority of the hens. There’s a handful of this year’s pullets that Dooley can claim, according to Rusty. I would suspect that this is contributing to the tremor.

My birds free range together all day long on 4 fenced acres, aka my yard and deck. The poopy devils!

Even though the tremor is still there, it is remarkably less than it was pre-vitamins. I am going to continue giving them to him for 2 weeks and see where we stand. Tonight will be day 6. I’m hoping for the best from the vitamins.

I do put Dooley up sometimes late in the day, the time he poses the most aggravation for Rusty.

 

[Mimi13]

Just a quick update on Rusty.

His tremor is still there. Maybe not as much though, however, it is still enough to affect his mating ability. He tries and he tries and he tries, then gives up and just stands on them, which must be terrible because he’s a big old boy. I hate it for him and the girls. Even though it’s hard to watch I will try to get a video.

 

[samartyme]

Just a quick update on Rusty.

His tremor is still there. Maybe not as much though, however, it is still enough to affect his mating ability. He tries and he tries and he tries, then gives up and just stands on them, which must be terrible because he’s a big old boy. I hate it for him and the girls. Even though it’s hard to watch I will try to get a video.

Hi, I have a rooster who trembles in his legs pretty pad, it started abs has just gotten worse, the less tban one yr old Roo found him vulnerable and attacked him. The big roo, coach, is in the house now recovering and being fed. I’m just wondering if you had updates on Rusty, how are things with him?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi, I have a rooster who trembles in his legs pretty pad, it started abs has just gotten worse, the less tban one yr old Roo found him vulnerable and attacked him. The big roo, coach, is in the house now recovering and being fed. I’m just wondering if you had updates on Rusty, how are things with him?

Welcome To BYC

This thread is almost 2 years old and the OP has not been on in almost a year so they may not see your question.

If you wish, post photos and video of your rooster in a new thread of your own or add on to this one, but please include descriptions of symptoms and circumstances of your rooster so we can address your issues.
Thank You!