Why does my goofy rooster walk like this?

[Noellereagan]

And it's not just sometimes. It's ALL the time.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

He may have troubles seeing, or even feeling with his feet. Only he knows for sure.

 

[sylviethecochin]

My boy Chester did that near the end of his life. He was in quite a bit of pain from an infected foot, and lay down a lot. I hope that is not the case with your bird, but I would check, just in case.

Can you check his feet and eyes? (some partially-blind chickens apparently walk like that) Is he on a concrete garage floor all of the time? Does he perch high and then fly down to hit the ground at a high speed? Can you see anything like leg mites? Do his nails and spurs look alright?

 

[Noellereagan]

My boy Chester did that near the end of his life. He was in quite a bit of pain from an infected foot, and lay down a lot. I hope that is not the case with your bird, but I would check, just in case.

Can you check his feet and eyes? (some partially-blind chickens apparently walk like that) Is he on a concrete garage floor all of the time? Does he perch high and then fly down to hit the ground at a high speed? Can you see anything like leg mites? Do his nails and spurs look alright?

Oh gosh no. He has spent two nights on that floor. He's been picked on recently by the other boys. He used to have top billing but dropped to the bottom. He is usually inna coop with many roosts that aren't too high and it has mats and deep bedding of pine so they won't hurt their legs. Last night he didn't want to come in and hid from me. He must have been roosting in the trees. I went out with a flashlight again at 1130pm and he came down to me and followed me into the open garage door and curled up by our German Shepard. I closed the door and left him. Tonight, come sundown, he came back into the accrss/ man door to the garage and laid down with the dog again. I left him be and closed the garage. He free ranges from 6 am to dusk. His eyes and feet seem okay. As do his spurs and nails and legs. He's done this for almost all his life. He's 20 weeks. I'm not sure how I would definitely determine sight problems. But he seems to see good. He's a pet. As you can see he is missing his top beak. He's used to being coddled. I wonder if it's just a quirky thing and he's fine? I hope so. Doesn't seem in pain. Just always seems apprehensive since he lost his rank in the flock.

 

[Noellereagan]

I wonder if however he lost his top beak also did some sensory damage to sight or depth perception. He seems to see okay but I question the depth perception.

 

[aart]

I wonder if however he lost his top beak also did some sensory damage to sight or depth perception. He seems to see okay but I question the depth perception.

How did he lose the top beak?
Depth perception could be tested by putting some grin on the concrete floor and see if he can hit it...oh maybe he won't even try due to beak loss?
I've seen many cockerels do this at about that age...3-5 months.
Not every single step but most, thought it had to do with a growth spurt making them kinda clumsy.
Have you raised this bird from a chick?

 

[Noellereagan]

How did he lose the top beak?
Depth perception could be tested by putting some grin on the concrete floor and see if he can hit it...oh maybe he won't even try due to beak loss?
I've seen many cockerels do this at about that age...3-5 months.
Not every single step but most, thought it had to do with a growth spurt making them kinda clumsy.
Have you raised this bird from a chick?

I have no idea how it happened. I'll post a thread to when I noticed it later. He is in that age range. And there are occasional steps he takes normal. Just not many. And he would not try to pick up anything off the ground. He can't. His whole top beak is missing. He has to eat a deep bowl of mash so he can "scoop" it up. Or treats directly from my hand so he can grab them. At first I thought he wouldn't make it but remarkably, he's adapted. And thriving. My guess is his beak was caught on something. He was very little. I never did figure out what could be possibly happened. Poor little fella.

 

[Noellereagan]

How did he lose the top beak?
Depth perception could be tested by putting some grin on the concrete floor and see if he can hit it...oh maybe he won't even try due to beak loss?
I've seen many cockerels do this at about that age...3-5 months.
Not every single step but most, thought it had to do with a growth spurt making them kinda clumsy.
Have you raised this bird from a chick?

And, yes. I've had him from a few days old.

 

[aart]

I thought I recognized you both...has any of the beak grown back?

 

[Noellereagan]

I thought I recognized you both...has any of the beak grown back?

No. None at all. Poor baby. But he's doing good though. He's spoiled as all hell and knows it.