Strange RoosterI have a warm almost one year old

[flwrldy]

I have a 10 month old Rooster. He started crowing at about three months old. However he has never ever mated with any of my hens, he has never tried either, and he has the most horrible crow you’ve ever heard. My daughter and son-in-law who have had chickens for years, when they first heard him said, what in the world was that? LOL It’s that bad, he sounds like a teenage boy when their voices are changing. He also has Wry-tail.. He’s a White crested black Polish. I do have a big Easter egger Rooster named Rocky, and 14 hens and 4 pellets, and two duck hens. My big rooster mates all the girls, and tries to make everything else including the ducks. I don’t want my polish to mate, so I’m glad he doesn’t, because of the wry-tail, but I want to know why he hasn’t even tried. I’ve looked and looked online, but nothing. Is he one of a kind lol

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

1. He is Polish, and they are kind of wacky because of limited vision
2. You have a bigger rooster
3. Since the other rooster dominant, the lower rooster is taking a chance trying to mate the other roosters hens. (might turn into a fight)

 

[flwrldy]

1. He is Polish, and they are kind of wacky because of limited vision
2. You have a bigger rooster
3. Since the other rooster dominant, the lower rooster is taking a chance trying to mate the other roosters hens. (might turn into a fight)

I think only once Rocky beat up Popover, but it was hard to tell, because the hens are or were pretty mean to him. I’ve never seen Rocky going after him at all, but that one day he was limping and depressed. We brought him in and a few days later he was back to his old self. We put him back and he was fine. The hens continued and still do once in a while to peck his head. My daughter gave me 2 silkies and that stopped the head pecking pretty much, I guess because they’re smaller then he is, but sometimes they still do peck his head. He’s bald because of it. I keep bluecoat on it too. I also trim his feathers that do block his eyes so he can see.

 

[aart]

Unless you are watching them during every daylight minute, you might well miss seeing a male mate a female.....it's happens fast!
Subordinate males can be sneaky!

 

[JedJackson]

Yep, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he's mating with the ladies on the sly. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening. It's just what roosters do, even Polish roosters.

On the other hand, if all of the hens are still dominant over him then he would not likely have a chance to mate because the hens won't let him and will make a ruckus if he tries to force them. And any ruckus will catch the attention of the dominant rooster, who will intervene and stop it and probably put the hurt on him, too.

So it's feasible that he is really not mating with them but don't expect that situation to last forever.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Yes, he could be doing it behind your back.

 

[flwrldy]

I spend a lot of time with him, as does my husband. Sometimes sitting for an hour or more at a time in the coop. I also can see them in the run from my living room. He never tries at all. When they freerange he comes up to the porch or front door if I don’t block off the porch to get to the front door, and won’t leave.. He stays there until one of us comes out, then follows us around the yard, and he won’t join the others free ranging unless one of us is out there with all of them.. I have been out there with them all day. He follows me like a puppy dog. Trust me he never tries at all.

 

[rebrascora]

He is a subordinate adolescent cockerel in a flock of mostly mature birds with a flock master. He is not allowed to mate and by the sound of it, does not have the confidence to try to mate or has learned his lesson if he did try.
.
Furthermore these two statements concern me.....

He also has Wry-tail

I’ve never seen Rocky going after him at all, but that one day he was limping and depressed.

because both are indications that he may be harbouring Marek's Disease. The fact that he is adolescent, which is the prime age for it to exhibit and he started limping after the flock master put him in his place, are telling. Wry tail is another, perhaps less known, Marek's symptom. Of course he could just have a developmental or vitamin deficiency malformation and have been injured by your main rooster causing the lameness, but if you don't have a use for this little guy and plan on breeding from your remaining flock, he may pose a risk of infecting any youngsters you raise in the future.

 

[SimplyLivinthatFarmLife]

He is a subordinate adolescent cockerel in a flock of mostly mature birds with a flock master. He is not allowed to mate and by the sound of it, does not have the confidence to try to mate or has learned his lesson if he did try.
.
Furthermore these two statements concern me.....




because both are indications that he may be harbouring Marek's Disease. The fact that he is adolescent, which is the prime age for it to exhibit and he started limping after the flock master put him in his place, are telling. Wry tail is another, perhaps less known, Marek's symptom. Of course he could just have a developmental or vitamin deficiency malformation and have been injured by your main rooster causing the lameness, but if you don't have a use for this little guy and plan on breeding from your remaining flock, he may pose a risk of infecting any youngsters you raise in the future.

Oh noooo...hope it's not Marek's disease. I lost two girls to this.

 

[rebrascora]

Oh noooo...hope it's not Marek's disease. I lost two girls to this.

I've lost considerably more than 2 to it over the years and you get to recognise the signs once you have dealt with it for a while. I have also processed quite a few cockerels and I know how strong and tough their legs and sinews are and Marek's is a much more likely cause of lameness than injury.

As I said, I could be completely off course with that, but it is worth keeping in the back of your mind both for his sake and that of your pullets and any future chicks. If he was to have a seizure in the coop, the others would probably kill him.

He sounds like a real pet. I had one with Marek's that was equally sweet. Once you have spent time nursing them, you often build up a special bond.