Rooster can't walk! Has no balance. Please help!

[The Happster]

So I have this rooster called Pumpkin and he's been fine up until yesterday, when my brother called me out and said he saw that the chicken couldn't walk. Went out, and he literally can't keep his balance, he's falling all over the place. I've put him in a separate shed with some hay and one of his hens for company. I thought maybe it was a leg problem, but he doesn't appear to be in any pain. He is just trying to do everything as normal, but he just can't. He's crowing and trying to chase the hens he sees. He is eating when I hand feed him, holding him to stop him falling over. He is also drinking when I assist him. All seems fine apart from the walking, except I notice his comb is a little bit floppy. Not much, but more than usual. He's my favourite, and a much loved family pet....I'd appreciate any help or suggestions with this.

Thanks

 

[The Happster]

In case it helps, his diet is layers pellets, just like the hens, and a handful of scratch every now and again. He does have some scraps, but not anything poisonous, as I've had chickens for a while and I know not to feed them onions, ect. I can't send a video of him as it won't let me. Also, when we first noticed he couldn't walk, I gave him some food and noticed he was really hungry. He ate and ate. I was hoping he'd be better this morning but he seems the same, if not worse. Please help, someone.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your rooster. How old is he? Is he your only rooster? Does one leg seem weaker than another, or is he having any wing drooping? He might be showing symptoms of Mareks disease, but there could be some other cause that affects the nervous system. Mold in feed, eating dead animal remains or scratching in compost beds, eating lead paint or old lead shot in the ground, can sometimes cause signs that are similar to Mareks. Because he is having walking and balance issues, he may not be getting enough to eat and drink. I would probably separate him in a crate with food and water close to him, secured to the crate. He could remain with his ladies in there. I would go ahead and try some vitamins, such as 2 ml of Poultry NutriDrench once a day.

 

[Chocolate_Chick]

Is his neck bent? It sounds like my rooster that had wry neck but his neck was also twisted

 

[The Happster]

Thanks so much for the replies! Pumpkin is about three years old. We have 9 chickens in total, two roosters and seven hens. The other rooster is actually Pumpkins brother. He did have a bit of wing drooping, but we thought that might be so he could balance. His neck is fine. He's absolutely fine apart from the balancing. I thought maybe he'd hurt his legs but he isn't in any pain... I've made sure to hand feed him until his crop is reasonably full. And also got him to drink too. Thanks for replying, everyone

 

[The Happster]

He keeps just trying to sit on my lap. He often does this. I can't see he'd have any chance of eating dead animals/ mouldy feed. I was wondering if his spurs being too long would affect his balance? But it probably wouldn't happen that fast would it?

 

[Eggcessive]

Well, it may just be a problem with him being lower in the pecking order, and not feeling comfortable enough or kept away from food. Just having two roosters, one has to be subordinate to survive, and I would just make sure that he is getting his share of food and water. I usually put out 3 or more water and food stations around my chicken yard, just so all of the meeker birds can get enough. Dehydration alone can cause balance issues. He is a little old to suddenly showing signs of Mareks unless any new birds have been added recently.

 

[Eggcessive]

You can trim and round off his spurs with a pair of dog nail clippers. That would help keep the hens from being cut as well. You could add a few more hens to your flock. Two roosters with just 7 hens is too few. You also could rotate the roosters with the hens while one is penned.

 

[Trish1974]

I'm having similar issues with one of my 3 year old roosters. He was fine in the morning, that evening I found him in a nest box because he was unable to perch. For 2-3 days he kept falling back on his haunches, losing balance and walking bent over like a little old man. His particular issues didn't seem like Mareks. I gave him Nutridrench and supplemented him with other vitamins every other day. That was about a month ago. He has slowly gotten better, though he cannot breed successfully (he falls off), but I hope that will get better with time. To me it seems like a spine or hip injury, but like yours his spurs are too long and rub together when he tries to walk. When I have help available I'm going to trim them.

Though I don't have an answer for you @OneHappyRooster I hope you get some encouragement that he may get better. Follow Eggcessive's advice (she really knows her stuff) and please keep us posted. Good luck.

 

[The Happster]

Thanks so much, this all really helps. While we have two roosters, they aren't ever together. We didn't put them together because we didn't want them to fight. I realize this would have been ok maybe if we had more hens. Can't see us getting any more though (although I'd love to) I've had chickens for a long time and I get so torn up every time one dies. I have heard of Marek's, but never had to address it before. Our two youngest birds are about a year now, could they have given him it? He has been with them recently. They were our own hatch, but is it possible for them to catch it? Again, thanks so so much everyone who has bothered to reply.