Rooster can't roost

[prncs13]

My rooster Spencer who is getting up there in age (almost 10) and has always had feet issues is having trouble roosting. Seems like he can't hold onto the roost. He is very large and clumsy. When I put him up he seems like he is losing his balance and falls off. Other than that he is totally fine. If I widen it or put up a platform do you think he could sit on that? I found the poor thing stuffed in a nest box tonight and when you are almost 3 feet tall that can't be comfortable.

Thanks.
Michelle
PS. Of course this happens 2 days before I am leaving for a month.

 

[Nsampsel]

I would say set him a wide piece of wood (4 inches or so) about 6 inches to a foot off the coop floor & see if he likes that. Try using bricks, block or another chunk of wood (2x4 or 4x4) to raise it up with

 

[prncs13]

My helper is coming today and we are going to widen his normal roost and look at putting in one lower too. He was able to make the height, it just seemed a balance thing. He has huge feet but he has had some toe amputations because of frost bite. This morning was the first time I have heard him crow in over a month. He as never a big crower but he wasn't putting much oomph behind it today. He is eating and running around and everything. I think he just may be slowing down as he gets older. He is super well cared for. When we go to the vet all the girls come running out to greet him. As my husband says, he is my Million Dollar Rooster. He spent over 6 months in the house with me recovering from foot surgery. We are pretty bonded.

 

[RedDrgn]

A lower, wider roost should do him a world of good. 10 years old, though, wow! I hope ours hangs around to such a ripe old age.

 

[donrae]

My coop used to ge a greenhouse and still has some shelves running the perimeter. Most of my bids roost on them, but some go up in the rafters. No one seems to mind the shelves.

 

[sourland]

I think the shelf and lowered roost will solve your problem. You have done well by him to get a large rooster to that age. I have had bantams that lived longer than that, but most of my heavy birds never reached that age.