bringing back a nice head of feathers

[craigHartland]

Recently I have been given a nice frizzle rooster from a friend but when I had a closer look I could see lice and possibly mites however he is healed from that and is now happily running with the rest of my flock, But the feathers from the top of his head has been ruined by his old hens and the lice, Is there any way I can get his feathers to come back quickly and neatly like a true frizzle cockerel?

 

[craigHartland]

by the way I am already using apple cider vinegar for 1 week each month and they constantly have poultry spice mixed in with their food but I'm not sure if that is good enough, seeing as I am a beginner breeder any advice goes a long way, Thanks guys

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Feed meat scraps or a higher protein food. If the feathers were picked clean off they should grow back quickly. If they're just broken, you'll have to pull them or wait for a moult before they'll be pretty again

 

[craigHartland]

they were broken, would you recommend pulling them?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If you want the broken feathers to grow back before the bird moults, then yes- pull them. Lots of breeders that breed and show birds will pull feathers around vents and faces instead of trimming (for fertility/so the chicken can see/whatever reason). The pulled feathers grow back faster so the birds can be ready for a show (just as an example). If you were to cut the feathers you'd either have to wait for a moult or pluck. I don't like pulling feathers, the chickens don't appreciate it much either. But, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[craigHartland]

well im not putting him in any shows just yet, i just hated seeing those snapped feathers atop his head, i suppose the best thing would be to just wait for the molt, thanks for the help