Feathered Roo's Red Legs (normal?)

[loofa]

I recently rescued this young little frizzle rooster. He was in bad shape with scabs and wounds all over his comb, super underweight, tail, wing, and leg feathers mostly all broken. I think he'd lived all of his short life in an overcrowded wire cage. Anyhow, I've never had a chicken with feathered legs/feet before. This looks so painful to me! And this part doesn't seem so much like a result of his terrible past, but .... it just looks painful how the feathers grow in? Is the red of his legs normal? Is he in pain? He doesn't like me touching his legs and feet, which makes me think he is. Open to any advice for Mr. Frazzle

 

[Livia Ammon]

My Marans Roos have had this sort of thing too. It doesn’t ever seem to bother them, though. I hope it’s alright.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I think the redness is a sign of active hormones. Let me tag @Eggcessive, she'll know.