Why is my rooster making a “barfing” sound?

[rod5591]

It started 2 days ago. He is just walking along doing his thing when I will hear a vocalization that sounds like he just barfed. Except he didn’t barf, he just made a strange noise that sounds like barfing. He will make the sound 3 or 4 times within a few minutes and then stop. I attach a pic of him from yesterday. Any thoughts on what this vomiting sound is?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Maybe a video will get a visual and hear the sound. I think you have to use vimeo or youtube to upload them here.

Spur size indicated he is still a cockerel.

 

[rod5591]

Thank you, I think he is no longer a cockerel since he mounts at least two hens a day

 

[rebrascora]

A cockerel is a male chicken under a year old. It has nothing to do with mounting hens except that they will usually do so with more frequency and sometimes aggression when they are cockerels.

Two things occurred to me..... One was that he might just be developing his crow since he is still young. They can sound pretty weird sometimes until their voices fully develop. The other is that he appears to have a rather pronounced crop in that photo. Was that just the camera angle or is that normal for him and have you palpitated or massaged it. He may have a crop problem. Does his breath smell bad?

 

[rod5591]

A cockerel is a male chicken under a year old. It has nothing to do with mounting hens except that they will usually do so with more frequency and sometimes aggression when they are cockerels.

Two things occurred to me..... One was that he might just be developing his crow since he is still young. They can sound pretty weird sometimes until their voices fully develop. The other is that he appears to have a rather pronounced crop in that photo. Was that just the camera angle or is that normal for him and have you palpitated or massaged it. He may have a crop problem. Does his breath smell bad?

 

[rod5591]

Yes, he is under a year—will be 6 months soon. Cockerel it is!

I have never been able to pick up my chickens, except when the were chicks. I am old and slow,they are young and fast. This morning when I let them out of the coop, I will wear gloves and try to handle him and examine him more closely.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

My cockerel makes a grumpy gurgling sound, but it sounds normal enough to me. I just figured that cockerels/roosters are very vocal.
It doesn't sound like vomiting though - not to me anyway.
Is your cockerel's crop empty in the morning? Not too squishy?
He is a handsome one!

 

[Confused a doodle doo]

A fishing net with a long handle catches chickens better than it catches fish....

 

[llombardo]

Yes, he is under a year—will be 6 months soon. Cockerel it is!

I have never been able to pick up my chickens, except when the were chicks. I am old and slow,they are young and fast. This morning when I let them out of the coop, I will wear gloves and try to handle him and examine him more closely.

The easiest way to catch them is once they are in the coop and roosting. So if you have someone or you yourself are tall enough to grab off the roost, that's when you do it. I used to chase them around to catch and examine, it did nothing but tire me out and stress them out. Make sure you grab them right because they might kick and scratch you or try to flap the wings. I just checked my boy over last night this way.

 

[EggWalrus]

Yes, he is under a year—will be 6 months soon. Cockerel it is!

I have never been able to pick up my chickens, except when the were chicks. I am old and slow,they are young and fast. This morning when I let them out of the coop, I will wear gloves and try to handle him and examine him more closely.

An easy way to catch them is using a shepherds hook made from a coat hanger. Just catch them by the ankle with the hook, get them off the ground, then grab them with other hand. You tube had several videos on how to make and use a chicken shepherd hook.