Time is Of the Essence: Advice on AI from Deceased Rooster (yes, that's what I said)

[off-grid hen]

I am wishing you luck and strength with the whole process.

 

[CAjerseychick]

He is a beautiful Rooster, I would want to preserve a piece of him too-- Why not call an Avian vet and have them extract the semen for you while they are euthanizing him(or shortly after)... or at least consult with one... Not sure how the insemination process with the hens would be either, but I guess if an egg comes out, a little ole insemination tube can certainly go in...
Sorry for your (impending) loss, but hope you are able to get another chick from him..

 

[theoldchick]

With an old rooster with sketchy sperm count it would be best to inseminate as soon as possible. In my poultry AI class we waited no longer than two hours-keep the semen warm and in the dark- basically kept our hands around the collecting syringe.

While not much research has been done on how to store chicken sperm, our class noted lack of motility (not moving) in sperm refrigerated for two hours. How to store and thaw chicken semen is not that well researched. In horses and cattle they do add a preservative to frozen semen, and one has to follow strict protocol to freeze and thaw semen before placing it in the recipient.

If you had a microscope you could check your sample and see if you even had sperm in the fluid.

Many times rooster are fertile in their old age, but the balancing act of mating is simply too much for their aged bones.

Good luck, and I'm sorry to hear your big guy isn't doing so well.

 

[BusyBlonde]

No words of advice, just sorry that you and he are going through this. I hope you have good luck and it works.

 

[speckledhen]

He is a beautiful Rooster, I would want to preserve a piece of him too-- Why not call an Avian vet and have them extract the semen for you while they are euthanizing him(or shortly after)... or at least consult with one... Not sure how the insemination process with the hens would be either, but I guess if an egg comes out, a little ole insemination tube can certainly go in...
Sorry for your (impending) loss, but hope you are able to get another chick from him..

With an old rooster with sketchy sperm count it would be best to inseminate as soon as possible. In my poultry AI class we waited no longer than two hours-keep the semen warm and in the dark- basically kept our hands around the collecting syringe.

While not much research has been done on how to store chicken sperm, our class noted lack of motility (not moving) in sperm refrigerated for two hours. How to store and thaw chicken semen is not that well researched. In horses and cattle they do add a preservative to frozen semen, and one has to follow strict protocol to freeze and thaw semen before placing it in the recipient.

If you had a microscope you could check your sample and see if you even had sperm in the fluid.

Many times rooster are fertile in their old age, but the balancing act of mating is simply too much for their aged bones.

Good luck, and I'm sorry to hear your big guy isn't doing so well.

Sorry, CAjerseychick, avian vet out here? Nope. This is the middle of nowhere. Can't afford to go that route anyway, even if there was one available.

theoldchick, I do plan to inseminate immediately after collecting, not store the sample, even if it's 3 a.m. No need to wait on it-the surgical tray is ready to go for the extraction of his testes. I just hope they are completely atrophied or something like that. I wish I did have a microscope, but alas, don't have one.

He was on his feet when we got back from our break away from the place. That is one tough old bird, the Suedenator.

 

[chickenzoo]

So very sorry to hear this....... You know how I am with my birds.... I feel your pain. Hugs to both of you and that the AI might be successful....