Old rooster falling down

[spoiledbirds]

My rooster is about 6 years old. He seems to lose his balance when walking - looks like he is drunk. He is eating and drinking and otherwise seems ok except he is holding his tail feathers lower to the ground and occasionally will even fall foward when eating. Any suggestions? He is with 3 hens who are about 7 months old and very healthy. He is eating layer mash, cracked corn, fresh veggies and has grit and crushed oyster shells available to him as well. Is he old for a rooster? What is their average life span? Anything I can do to help him? Thanks in advance for answering all these questions!

 

[Judy]

Yes, he's getting along in years. A chicken can live up to 20 years but usually it is more like 8 or 10, from what I have read.

Two things I would do. One is supplement his protein. People feed roosters layer feed all the time, but it is really a little short on protein for them. Cracked corn and veggies are fine for treats but do not supply much protein. He doesn't need the oyster shell, for sure, but he probably isn't eating any. The other is worming. Unless you have them on a regular worming program, I would worm the whole flock. Wazine, then 2 or 3 weeks later, a stronger agent like ivomectin. Here is a recent thread about worming, but there is lots of info about it on here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=414733