Why do my Roosters Stink?

[thlayli]

I have 2, 13 week old cockerels, and they reek to high heaven. They're not sick, and they don't do stuff my pullets don't do. I thought maybe all chickens smelled bad so I grabbed a couple of the girls and took a good whiff, but they don't have any sort of unpleasant odor. I can't even get near the boys without pulling a face and plugging my nose. Is this normal?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

No, that is NOT normal. I have 8 roosters and none of them smell any different than my hens. Do they have gross stuff on them? Where do they dust bathe?

 

[Kiki]

I agree with @RoostersAreAwesome .
I have never (I spend hours each day reading) read anyone having this same issue with the smell.
Does it smell like wet poo...of dead animal maybe?

 

[thlayli]

My chickens free range in a fenced 1 acre area, so the boys dust bathe where and eat exactly what the girls do. They dont smell like poo nor is it the gaggy sweet smell of rotting meat. Its a kind of sour, pungent smell. Neither of them are injured, and they look clean. I'm stumped.

 

[Bluechick2u]

I've had many cockerels, never ever had one smell, something is horribly wrong for sure. Maybe start by giving each a warm bath, this can help you see if there's anything weird under the feathers, like a bump that erupted puss, or diarrhea, etc. Have they been fighting eachother?

 

[thlayli]

Not really fighting, just a little fluffed up posturing. They figured out their chain of command pretty quickly as chicks. I'll have to snag them late tonight then, as they roost (the sun doesn't set until around 11 pm where I live) and do a better exam. They dont like being handled at all.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I would get them a bath, if you can't look really closely at them you may not see the problem.

 

[MasAhora]

I am curious, what "shampoo" would you use in the bath? I'd like to know what is OK for them without striping good oils (a brand name is not helpful for international members but hints/suggestions appreciated).

Oh and sometimes the darlings smell less sweet when they have wondered through a poo patch with water (stinky farm yard spots). Is the smell persistent? One day would not worry me but a few days would get me thinking why are they not dust bathing???

 

[Bluechick2u]

I use just a warm epson salts bath, no actual soap, just 2 tblsp epson salt to each gallon of water

 

[MasAhora]

I use just a warm epson salts bath, no actual soap, just 2 tblsp epson salt to each gallon of water

Thanks for the info, so far I have only once found a few epson salt 'capsules' for sale where I live.