The New Flock 2021: Back to Basics

[speckledhen]

Seems Bodie, the head rooster, is not doing well now. He has been acting a bit off for a couple of weeks. He'll go off on his own, not come back to the pen with the others or leave out of the pen when everyone else is chilling there. Today, I thought I had the entire group put back inside, counted 15, prob miscounted because they were milling around. I let Mace and his four BR hens out, then on the way to the house, glanced over and saw two splash roosters close to each other, meaning one was left outside when I counted.
It was Mace going to scope out Bodie who was sitting on the ground. Bodie did not challenge him at all, completely abnormal. He cowed down as Mace came closer. I tried to get him to come to me, but Bodie is not one who likes being picked up so was standoffish. I got close and grabbed for him, he screamed and thrashed around, making me drop him. I shooed Mace back to the barn but Bodie ran inside and that was enough for Mace to attack. I separated them, Bodie flailed around and resisted me holding him. By that time, all the noise brought my husband out. He picked up Bodie and went to sit with him to calm him down. I took that chance to attempt to cut some of his ultra long spurs off, but the cutters weren't cutting it, he jerked and the entire spur came off. So now he has a 3" one and a sharp inner part left and later, I saw Dane, the lowest ranking rooster in that group, face off with Bodie in a stare down, highly unusual. Dane is not a fighter and has never done that to Bodie. He must sense weakness.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some of my roosters seem to be having troubles this year too. One is looking like the one that passed away two weeks ago, the other is also looking off. Not sure if it's the molt getting them or age, but for once I'm running low on roosters this year. A predator took all my extra ones on me, except two that I moved to a more secure pen.

Sorry Cynthia. Hopefully it's just a hard molt. The molt seems later and more stressful on my birds this year.

 

[speckledhen]

Sorry Cynthia. Hopefully it's just a hard molt. The molt seems later and more stressful on my birds this year.

I hope that's all. Bodie seems a bit shaky today. He's 3 1/2 now. The only bantam Cochins I had prior to this group both died at 4 1/2, just like their expiration date was up. There are no symptoms, really, just lethargy, shakiness and going downhill. I rarely have had good luck with hatchery birds and I guess I should learn my lesson once and for all. Thank you, Lisa, I really appreciate you! I'm so sorry about your boys and the predator loss.

 

[speckledhen]

Adding that Bodie is just dragging his feet around, not meting out the discipline as usual, his comb points beginning to curl over a little. I think he and his son, Axel, just reached their expiration dates. He's been a good leader.

 

[speckledhen]

Bodie is still hanging on, but now, Forrest has figured out that he is vulnerable and keeps trying to beat him up. Bodie just screams and stumbles into a corner, protecting his head. Poor guy has lost his flock entirely now. Last night, I had to put him in a milk crate nest box turned toward the wall so no one would really notice him up there. I'll have to get him out after daybreak so he doesn't attempt to jump down. Tom checked on him about 6 a.m. and said he was snug and relaxed in the nest so he left him there. I hope that poor guy just passes peacefully soon. Magnus, the buff who is Iris's sire, will take over the flock. Gunnar nor Dane, certainly not Forrest, will challenge Magnus if they know what's good for them. Magnus is very steady and quietly confident, has never challenged Bodie and has kept Forrest in line their entire lives. Gunnar and Dane are lovers, not fighters.
Why do I feel like I'm writing a script for a chicken soap opera when I tell stories about them??

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Why do I feel like I'm writing a script for a chicken soap opera when I tell stories about them??

The Young and the Feathered.

We ended culling my rooster. He wasn't gonna get better anyways. Hoping Bodies goes soon for you Cynthia. It's hard to watch them decline. There's not enough time between them being cute young chicks, and them being old birds. It goes by so fast, even faster for some.

 

[speckledhen]

The Young and the Feathered.

Haha, I like that!
Some just die way too young for no apparent reason, others keep going like the Energizer bunny up into their elder years.
Bodie is eating quite a bit, but won't drink. I did put him in the hospital cage to be unmolested. His body is shaking though his back feels quite warm to the touch, probably organs slowing shutting down.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, Bodie is trying to make a liar out of me. He is still really off, but when I put a hen or two with him, he stands tall, even scratches around a bit, even dances around the hens, though seems weak. He freaks out if you try to pick him up, flaps frantically and runs out of breath, not at all himself. He hasn't crowed in a week, though he seems to have bottomed out and is trying to make a comeback, but I don't hold out hope that he will. He's lost his place in the flock entirely after the separation. I guess I could put him back to either sink or swim, which would mean attacks by both Forrest and Dane. Gunnar nor Magnus seem to want to fight, thankfully. I did put him outside briefly with the flock, which he loves until Dane begins a fight; Bodie will try to fight back at first, then he'll fall down and stumble inside yelling. He's sleeping in the extra front pen under a reptile bulb in a nest of hay, too weak to jump the quite low first rung of the roost. It's a pain to have to keep one separate, yet try to keep him in touch with the flock in case he actually does recover. Ugh. I don't know what to do. He's better than he was two days ago, though it may be the rally before the end.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hopefully he continues to improve. I know it's a pain to have to keep accommodating him. Those other naughty boys always like to see a weakness in another roo and exploit it. I guess you can't blame them.

 

[speckledhen]

Hopefully he continues to improve. I know it's a pain to have to keep accommodating him. Those other naughty boys always like to see a weakness in another roo and exploit it. I guess you can't blame them.

I hope so, not because I need him, but I just hate for a bird less than four years old to just crap out on me for no apparent reason and his son has already died. We've babied him for a couple of weeks now and I guess we'll keep protecting him until he comes fully back or just drops over. Yes, it makes a ton more work for us...well, for me since my husband is not that mobile so jumping up to tend to chickens is usually my job, no matter what I'm trying to accomplish. I obviously don't blame the two lowest ranking males for trying to jump a rung in the hierarchy ladder, but without Bodie, they'll still be under Magnus in rank, as will Gunnar. Thank goodness that not all of them piled on Bodie at once, as they could have done. Overall, they're the best little roosters, as you know. Stay tuned for the next installment of the Young and The Feathered, LOL.