COMB QUESTION

[barnwife]

My neighbor has a rooster (buff minorca, i think) who she does not pen, so he hops over to my side of the fence and "plays" with my hens and pullets. My pullets and bantams are getting hurt by him (one has a tragic-looking limp) and when I grabbed him to toss him back over the fence again, I noticed black spots all over his comb and wattles.

I grabbed a space cage and put him inside with a food bowl and water (mine, the neighbor does not give these things to him).

Today, he is let out of the cage and in my yard again. Neighbor is out of town until work...which she does for long long hours.


What can I do to treat this wayward roo AND prevantatively MY flock?

I know he is lonely and hungry and that is why he jumps the fence. I am on otherwise good terms with this neighbor.

Please help me!

I know this post might be in the wrong place...but preventative care is vitally important to me in this issue.

My flock is free range and layer crumble oyster shell available at all times, ACV in water once weekly, fresh water twice daily or if they've run out, then more. They are locked up at night, and the wayward roo is tossed back to his side of the fence at least three times daily.


Thank-you for your advice in advance!

 

[MikasGirl]

Can you maybe try to get a picture of his comb and post it on here?

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Possibly dry fowl pox?

I'm not an expert, but I posted recently with a similar comb problem and that's what was suggested to me.

 

[sammi]

it's either Pox
peck marks..(try and wash off to see)
mite bites, or mites.

since your birds are already exposed to him..why not just adopt him?
(tho I'd keep him in quarantine for a bit if it's Pox)
but if he is fighting and injuring your birds, it could be a problem..
but if he knows he can access food regularly, he might calm down if he feels at home..
might need to have a temporary division of the pen to "train" him.
right now, he is looking for food and friends..but is also territorial.

otherwise..you'll have to talk to your neighbor about a shelter and pen and companionship..
and FOOD!

sometimes people are very thoughtless.

 

[barnwife]

I did lookups on all of these conditions...I am VERY sure its not pox, despite a creek in my backyard for mosquitoes and duck puddles (dowsing holes) all over the place.

He gets in fights CONSTANTLY with my bantam cochin roo (who is the KING of the yard despite his size).

I found the black spots on my highly feisty bantam buff brahma roo, too...and he is ALWAYS fighting with something...except he leaves King roo alone completely. I guess he got beat up pretty well.

Those two are the only ones with the spots. I have no help in getting the photos, so it is very doubtful I can get them. I will try later on today though.

Thank-you for your help!

 

[meriruka]

If the roos are fighting, it could easily be dried blood/peck marks from the battles.