A question has come up - is it a breed trait for the roosters to walk stiff legged? Oakley is such a good boy, but some days he really has problems walking. He walks like I do, and I have a bad back and knees. He still mates his girls, but he delegates a lot of the rooster duties to the younger roo, a Welsummer. Scout goes out w/ the girls when they forage and chases the neighbor girls back to their yard if they come visiting, (My Production Reds like to visit the other girls) and is allowed to mate the big girls. Both boys take care of the youngsters. The other afternoon we finally let the Annies out to forage after a period of confinement to their yard (introduced 6 juveniles to the coop), and Oakley sat in the run, blocking the door out to keep the little girls from roaming. After awhile, Scout came back and helped keep the little ones contained. The little girls wanted to go out, but obviously it was determined that they weren't ready. I have given Oakley vitamins, extra protein and even Reiki, (he will sit w/me for a brief hands on session) and his legs vary day to day. I really don't want to harvest him in Oct when I start with the youngsters, but I don't want him to suffer this winter. Besides, if the leg issue has a genetic component, then I will select the next NN roo from the NN/Del crosses. I don't know if his size has anything to do with the legs, Oakley is tall, and despite looking thin, he is a solid bird, I would guess he weighs 8-9 lbs, normal for the breed.
