Feather loss on sequestered rooster, thoughts?

[Cotton Hill Chick]

Hi Everyone,

I’m not sure I’m in the right forum, so am open to moving the post if needed.

We have a bantam Mille flour rooster that I’ve been keeping separate, but among, the flock for about 2 months now because he has been aggressive to the other Roos and mounting the hens ridiculously often. Yes, he’s young!

Anyway, he spends the day in a 10x10 chain link enclosure, covered for shade and partially covered against rain. Three sides are open to the flock around him. He has the same fresh food, fresh water as the flock. If the flock gets treats he does too. At night he goes into a cat carrier crate, inside the coop, hens roosting around him. Yesterday I cleaned out his sleeping crate, sprayed it with a mite and pest spray and put in fresh bedding, just in case.

In the last 3 days I am seeing aloe of feather loss, and not in the usual molt pattern. I’ve found at least 2-4 tail feathers or wing feathers a night.

His behavior seems normal otherwise. He has roosts in the chain link enclosure to fly up on, and he’s interacting with the flock at the fence line.

Do you all have thoughts on what might cause this kind of sudden feather loss?

Could it be stress related to being separate? That seems a stretch to me, but thought I’d ask those of you with more experience than I have!

Thanks for considering and any thoughts you can share!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could be going through a molt. Roosters will often molt before hens do. It's a bit early but not unheard of. When I've had roosters molt early they sometimes molt again later in the season.

 

[aart]

Roosters will often molt before hens do.

Yep.

Yes, he’s young!

How young? 12-18 months?

Are they fighting thru the fencing?

 

[Cotton Hill Chick]

Could be going through a molt. Roosters will often molt before hens do. It's a bit early but not unheard of. When I've had roosters molt early they sometimes molt again later in the season.

Thanks oldhenlikesdogs. I didn’t know that roos can molt earlier. That’s a relief!

 

[Cotton Hill Chick]

Yep.

How young? 12-18 months?

Are they fighting thru the fencing?

Hi! Yes, he’s in that age range. We got him and his hen mate about this time last year, 2-3 months old at that time.

I’m curious if you ask about that age range for particular reasons? An important time for roosters?

I visit the yard often, hang out there with tea, putter about. I haven’t seen any fighting through the fence... and many of the feathers I found were in the middle of the space as well.

Good news? No feather drop yesterday!

 

[aart]

I’m curious if you ask about that age range for particular reasons? An important time for roosters?

Because that's the age range they go thru the first adult molt.
Look for pin feathers to come in soon, that will confirm a molt.