Determining a rooster's age

[noisegeyser]

If his spurs are regularly trimmed (though I don't think that's even relevant at this point), are there any ways to determine a rooster's approximate age? I got mine from some people I used to know, after he was thrown over their fence. Seeing as how when people ditch roosters like that, the birds are usually pretty young, I'd guess he's probably around six years old now. I was just wondering if there are any other ways I can confirm that. Please move thread if I posted in the wrong forum, wasn't really sure where this should go.

 

[Shadrach]

If his spurs are regularly trimmed (though I don't think that's even relevant at this point), are there any ways to determine a rooster's approximate age? I got mine from some people I used to know, after he was thrown over their fence. Seeing as how when people ditch roosters like that, the birds are usually pretty young, I'd guess he's probably around six years old now. I was just wondering if there are any other ways I can confirm that. Please move thread if I posted in the wrong forum, wasn't really sure where this should go.

There isn't really. Spur development may give you some idea up to around two years old, but even that has many variables.
The general state of the legs can sometimes give an indication if the bird is old, but once again a bit of scaly leg mite can throw this right off.

 

[noisegeyser]

There isn't really. Spur development may give you some idea up to around two years old, but even that has many variables.
The general state of the legs can sometimes give an indication if the bird is old, but once again a bit of scaly leg mite can throw this right off.

Makes sense, I do notice rougher looking legs on old birds. So he's not very old, anyway. Thank you. Out of curiosity, out of all the birds you've had, how old was your oldest rooster?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My oldest rooster was about 8, would have been 9 if he had made it through the spring.

I don't trim spurs unless they absolutely have to, but I do know my bantam white faced Spanish rooster had (it they were flat and not curved) about four inch long spurs before we trimmed them down, and he's four this year.

 

[Shadrach]

Makes sense, I do notice rougher looking legs on old birds. So he's not very old, anyway. Thank you. Out of curiosity, out of all the birds you've had, how old was your oldest rooster?

The eldest rooster here got to nine years old.
The eldest hen, at least eleven years old.

 

[noisegeyser]

The eldest rooster here got to nine years old.
The eldest hen, at least eleven years old.

I've noticed a trend of people's roosters generally being shorter lived than their hens. I'm assuming this is because of their protector role? Sorry that I'm asking a lot of questions, I'd just like to ensure my guy lives as long as possible. Mine don't free range and I take them in the house at night, so predator risk is minimal. I saw a cochin hen on reddit that apparently lived to be 15, so I can hope he lives to be old.

 

[Shadrach]

I've noticed a trend of people's roosters generally being shorter lived than their hens. I'm assuming this is because of their protector role? Sorry that I'm asking a lot of questions, I'd just like to ensure my guy lives as long as possible. Mine don't free range and I take them in the house at night, so predator risk is minimal. I saw a cochin hen on reddit that apparently lived to be 15, so I can hope he lives to be old.

The eldest rooster here died of a heart attack.
I think reliable statistics about length of life exclude predation. You can get unlucky at any age.
All the chickens here free range.
My belief is that genetics and diet are important factors when it come to longevity. Unfortunately there haven't been many studies, if any, on rooster life span.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We don't know how my rooster went. We're hoping he died and then keeled over because we found him hooked inside down on his spurs (they were only about an inch curved, very small considering his age). Our oldest hen lived to be 9 but she was sick near the end and that's what got her killed. Our rooster was pretty healthy until we found him.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

We don't know how my rooster went. We're hoping he died and then keeled over because we found him hooked inside down on his spurs (they were only about an inch curved, very small considering his age). Our oldest hen lived to be 9 but she was sick near the end and that's what got her killed. Our rooster was pretty healthy until we found him.

This is adding that we never fed him any special food. He ate layer pellets with the odd egg or scrap of food and never jad a problem about the calcium that supposedly builds up