DOES MOULTING AFFECT LIBIDO IN ROOSTERS?

[Patricia Vidalin]

I have borrowed a 14 month old Lavender LF rooster who is presently moulting.  He has been with me for a couple months.  His attempts at mating are very lacklustre.  He seems to make all the right moves, dropping his wing, circling and even if the hen crouches in front of him he will walk away.  Is there a "Tonic" to help this guy?  Thanks!!

[greeneggsandham]

The production of new feathers does require extra protein.  I would think it would affect the rooster somewhat.

[Clif Redden]

In conversations I've had with Paul Smith he has told me Roosters are sterile while molting. I don't know if every rooster molting is sterile, but I do know when the quill of the feather is developing and full of blood (a green feather) they are touchy because those feathers are very tender. A rooster may not do some things he would normally do while molting.

[Jeffery and Cheryl Vance]

Clif I was looking back on some notes from a mentor of mine he had told me not to try to breed a moulting rooster because i would not have good results and the man was Charlie Carr, he told me that less then 5% would not hatch. And Mr Curtis Blackwell of Jasper Al had done a study on this i have the data some where but can not find it. I have kept these notes for over 30 years.

[Clif Redden]

I'm sure Mr Carr and Mr Blackwell have that knowledge on good authority. Hey Jeff I haven't gotten a Wheaten rooster in the mail, do you think he got lost?

[Patricia Vidalin]

Thanks very much for your input - It seemed logical to me that if a hen stops laying while moulting a rooster might be going through something as well.  Worse case scenario, he is a dud.  Time will tell.