The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: irenemcc on March 18, 2017, 11:57:10 am
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I sold an older cockerel a few months ago to run with 5/6 hens and keep them in order after their original cockerel had died (he was rather elderly).
Had the new owner contact me to ask why he might have stopped crowing. Eating, drinking, scratching around as normal but he has stopped crowing. Still opens his beak etc as if to crow but no crow?
I'm puzzled, any ideas? Is it a sign of a problem?
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How old is the cockerel? Has he been wormed recently? Is he in accommodation where he can stretch his neck sufficiently to crow if he wants to?
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Cocks can crow sitting down if they have a mind to, particularly Orpingtons.
I would check his throat Irenemcc. What you are looking for are cream coloured cankers, which apart from being in the throat will be in the airways. He would be carrying the TG parasite in that case and it has flared up due to immunity depression from the stress of the move. Unfortunately that would mean he has infected the hens, so hopefully that's not the problem. It can be treated though.
Aside from that I don't know, although a quiet cockerel is much sought after chicken usually.
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Yup. I'd be auctioning him off to the highest bidder!
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He is around 4 years old. I bred him. Orpington cross silkie. Lovely nice mannered boy. Wormed in January. Has plenty of room with a coop big enough for twice as many hens as she keeps plus a large outside run. Well cared for and well fed. No worries there.
I'll get her to check his throat for these cankers but would I not have seen something in some of my hens in the past? If it was in the flock?
Thanks for the input as I said I'm bamboozled.