Better feathers?

[Elitefarm]

Finally got a picture of his vent area!

Here's a new tail picture, I'm starting to suspect picking so I have been using a no picking spray but would still love opinions

 

[ChickNanny13]

Yikes ... Not sure what that is but will tag others with more experience that would know.
@casportpony @aart @azygous @micstrachan @Eggcessive @WVduckchick @Wyorp Rock @dawg53 Thank you all in advance, not sure who's still up

 

[Eggcessive]

To me it looks like the sort of red tissue that is seen around combs and wattles, so may be it is normal for this rooster? In the past I have seen pictures of this kind of thing on parts of the body where it normally is not seen.

 

[ChickNanny13]

To me it looks like the sort of red tissue that is seen around combs and wattles, so may be it is normal for this rooster? In the past I have seen pictures of this kind of thing on parts of the body where it normally is not seen.

Wow, that's interesting, thank you for responding

 

[azygous]

I have never seen such a horrible sight on a chicken butt. If I discovered that on my rooster, this would be my thought process:

1. Red skin means infection or extreme irritation.
2. The barely emerging pin feathers offer a clue that something may be feeding on the butt feathers and may have burrowed into the skin around the feather shafts.
3. What type of life form would do that? Flies? Mites? Lice? All of these insects are attracted to the moisture around a chicken's vent area. Flies would lay eggs in any poop accumulated under the vent, then the maggots hatch in just a day and burrow under the skin to feed on tissue. The welts look like they could contain maggots. Look very carefully - do you detect any subtle movement under the skin?
4. I would cleanse the red welts with alcohol and make a tiny, shallow incision in one of the welts and squeeze the skin on either side of the incision to see if a maggot pops out. If that happens, you then know you're dealing with fly strike, although I've never seen a case that looks like that.
5. The appearance of the raised welts makes me suspicious that a life form is living under those welts.
6. If you have the means, I recommend having a vet look at it.
7. If you can't see a vet, I would spray the area with Vetericyn and lather on a thick layer of castor oil to smother insects if this is what is under the welts. If it's simply a rash, the castor oil will soothe it.

If this is fly strike, you will need to remove every single maggot. There is no other alternative treatment for fly strike.

Once the skin welts clear up, feathers should grow back. Feather Fixer is a pricey feed that promotes feather growth, or feed the roo some quality animal protein.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Thank you azygous, I was thinking possible flystrike but I'm not experienced with it. OP needs to keep us updated PLEASE

 

[Banditschickens]

 

[Elitefarm]

To me it looks like the sort of red tissue that is seen around combs and wattles, so may be it is normal for this rooster? In the past I have seen pictures of this kind of thing on parts of the body where it normally is not seen.

I got him in January and he has always had it for as long as I've known, I read that some roosters get red "fertility lines" coming from their vent area? I have no clue what it is but it's not sensitive or painful to him, it has no smell.

 

[Elitefarm]

Oh gosh now I'm terrified!! I've never experienced fly strike but from everything I've read it doesn't seem like that but I definitely could be wrong, it is almost the same texture as his comb and has no sensitivity That is hopefully a last resort especially if that's not the problem. I'll try the castor oil first and hope that helps, if not I guess I'll take him to the vet I'm too squeamish :/ thank you! I'll keep you all updated!

 

[aart]

To me it looks like the sort of red tissue that is seen around combs and wattles, so may be it is normal for this rooster? In the past I have seen pictures of this kind of thing on parts of the body where it normally is not seen.

That's what I was thinking, some kind of weird skin growth anomaly...and it's interfering with feather follicles there.

I read that some roosters get red "fertility lines" coming from their vent area?

Have heard, and seen, this in feet and legs.... but not around vent.

As to the fluffy feathers just in front of tail, there's a word for that and your guy's just got too many...he may just not be 'show quality'. The some 'shows' are more about handling the bird than the bird being SOP.

Another thought, what did you use to treat the mites(that weren't there)?
Some parasite med can inhibit feather growth, might be a wormer tho...can't remember but @casportpony would know.