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[Hillbilly Hen]

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[Hillbilly Hen]

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Beautiful eggs and chickens Kathy!! As always....

 

[kathyinmo]

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What? What happened? OH NO!

 

[speckledhen]

The three month long heat/humidity combo that none of my birds have ever experienced before this summer did something to him. When he gets excited and chases the girls, he turns dark and can't breathe. He's also lost weight, I noticed. He's been in the house for a week till today, getting misted with Oxine, in case he picked up a fungus, and he sounded completely normal crowing this morning. I brought Caroline in and put him in with the girls. He started chasing them and immediately turned purple and was having trouble breathing. I think his heart is damaged. Some of the older girls had breathing issues in this weather, but none have had color changes like Isaac. If he can't breed or care for the hens, if he's going to keel over dead if he does normal rooster stuff, I can't put him back with the hens; or maybe I should, really. Then, if he dies suddenly while doing what he does best, maybe he'll go out doing his job and I won't have to think about doing it for him.

Right now, he's out running loose, trying to figure out how to get back in with his women, flirting and dancing outside the fence, fussing with Suede until he sees me with the hose in my hand. What do you guys think?

 

[kathyinmo]

That is a tough call, for sure. I think I would put him back in with his girls. At least he would be happy to the end.

 

[speckledhen]

I appreciate your input, Kathy. It really is a tough call, but I don't need a pet rooster that can't be with the hens at all. What kind of life is that for a virile boy like Ike anyway? I already have Zane who needs daily attention and if this is the way Isaac is going to be, in effect, he is handicapped, just in a different way.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I agree, it would be a hard decision. If it were me I think I would have to let him be with his girls and let nature decide.

 

[speckledhen]

Thank you, Laura. Two votes for letting him be the man that he loves to be, then.

 

[crazyhen]

I vote let him be happy with his girls. If you isolate him, he will be miserable and die of stress too. Gloria jean

 

[NellaBean]

I agree with putting him out with the hens and letting nature decide.I had a little bantam hen who "broodied" herself to death recently. When it was obvious she wasnt going to make it I gave her her chicks back (i had taken them away since she was in bad shape and not caring for them). She really seemed to get a 2nd wind at that point and did better for a couple days....and then died. But at least she died happy.