strange behavior swings (w/backstory) rooster being weird

[flappychicken]

I had bought a sultan who we thought was a female. turns out he wasn't. we had also bought a ancona who also was a rooster (we wanted all hens) oh well... anyhow, we didn't know they were roos until it was too late.

One day I had a lacrosse game, I didn't have time to take the chickens out in their pen. (we have to supervise cuz of the hawks and neighbors dogs) when I was gone they teamed up on my sultan (Sully) and pecked his head raw. (it looked like his brains were sticking out) I felt terrible so he lived in my bedroom for the next weeks.

This is when the weird things started happening... He had a box... before he hated the box, after the incident He would not leave the box without a bribe of food. He would only take dust baths in clean shavings. And loved to sit in the bathroom sink... Idk then he lived outside and got slightly more normal except he would cry like for ever...He still slept inside. And he would talk to me before bed every night I would say good night sully and he would make a little beeping noise.

Then a couple months later I got him some friends the never fought EVER and we discovered he was a rooster after he humped one (or tried to) Then we knew he could never be with his old flock. So we moved them around and everything was back to normal. We even made him a new coop. So he could stay with his girlsBut... he started trying to hump other girls and then POOF he was weird again he started walking into walls crowing in the middle of the night he would get worked up over the dumbest things.

Now he sometimes doesn't recognize me I still go out every night to say goodnight and hug him and he will snuggle but he attacked me twice along with more walking into walls. I think maybe they damaged his brain pecking it like that. what do you think if so then what do you think I can do???

THANKS HAVEAGOODONE!!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

He probably did get some brain damage. Those breeds with crest seem to be prone to weird behaviors. Not much you can do for him. I have had birds with their crest pecked open and we culled them.

 

[sourland]

He may very well be a special needs bird for all of his life.

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

I can't say that I can help you completely understand your roosters behavior. Sometimes, they are just a puzzle!
Here's what I do know though...

Roosters' hormones and protective instincts peak about when they start mounting the hens. For this reason, really sweet, gentle cockerels may display almost seemingly random or sporadic aggressive behavior once they reach maturity.

Young roosters may also get frequently overly 'excited' about little things. This often occurs at night, when they can't see well. (Chickens eyes are highly dependent on light to see, even more so then humans... This means that chickens are blind when there is still enough light for people to see with. Lack of vision can easily spook young, paranoid roosters). These nighttime freak-outs often include squawking/crowing repeatedly at weird hours.

Given these factors, it doesn't sound like your rooster's brain is damaged... Especially since crested breeds tend to be a little more quirky/random than most other breeds. My cresteds walk into walls sometimes because their crests are sizable enough to slightly impair vision.

However, this is just my opinion...I have obviously not met Sully in person. Given that situation, I can't say for sure I would'nt say differently.

 

[flappychicken]

Thank's. My mom thinks he is just a weird bird from birth. LOL
I didn't know crested birds did things like that.

I will treat him with more care than if his brain is damaged. Do you think I could show him (which is the reason we got him(like in standard breed not like showmanship.))?

he still likes to snuggle with me though I am grateful he is not totally gone in the head.

 

[Little Chicken Girl]

Thank's. My mom thinks he is just a weird bird from birth. LOL
I didn't know crested birds did things like that.

I will treat him with more care than if his brain is damaged. Do you think I could show him (which is the reason we got him(like in standard breed not like showmanship.))?

he still likes to snuggle with me though I am grateful he is not totally gone in the head.

I don't see why you can't show him! (especially if he is even just 1/2 as handsome as the average Sultan)
Is he the one in your profile photo?

 

[chickens really]

Crested Chickens and Ducks have a genetic deformity...The skull is not fully closed...So a peck to the head can cause brain injury.....

 

[flappychicken]

hmm... ok I think I am not going to get more sultans unless I keep them separate yes he is the one in my profile picture. That was his younger self he is much more handsome now. this is him up mount pawtuckaway with me (I still thought he was a girl) I can get a more updated pic if you want to see him now.


and since we are on the topic of heads my other roo has black stuff on him comb idk what it is (we live in nh) and Its cold do you think it could be frostbite? r other roo does not have anything and his comb is bigger.

 

[chickens really]

Yes...Frostbite happens...Vaseline can help the comb from freezing depending on how cold you get?....

 

[flappychicken]

what if he already got it? then what do I do?