help please, frizzle/cochan has feather problems

[batznthebelfry]

5 months ago my frizzle/cochin rooster started losing rump, chest & wing feathers....wings are now just bald quills, & feathers that have come back in in areas is very thin & not uniform...ie empty areas on new quills...have seen no mites ect, he is healthy but am wondering if it could be a genetic problem...any ideas to help me with this...I worry about the wings as they are now deadly & am afraid to cut them back in fear of infections....any help would be greatly appreciated...

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
Is he double frizzled? I have heard and seen photos of birds being mated frizzle to frizzle and have very bad feathering-very brittle cannot keep them growing in or strong

 

[batznthebelfry]

thank you for your reply, I would say that is the problem though I do not know his lineage but like you I have heard this but wanted others to reply so I would have more info...thank you very much...M'

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I KNOW there is a thread about it on here from a while back with photos-let me do a little searching to see if I can find it for you

 

[sonew123]

Heres a good one so far https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3968

 

[sonew123]

and another-I think this was the one I was originally speaking of
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=250228

 

[batznthebelfry]

oh sweetie thank you soooo much for the info I went to everything & saw the pics & read the info & poor Pippi La'Roo definitely has the double gene but now that I am sure I know what I need to do to protect him better......I take in & rescue chickens others can't take care of or no longer want because of a problem or just getting rid of them...Pippi came to me from a neighbor who got rid of all her chickens & he was perfect for my wee hens I have....now since you gave me such great info I have a question for you...since his wing feathers are gone but the quills are still there & deadly can I trim them back or will I be cutting into the quick area...I really would like to clip them back some for his own & the hens safety...any help would be appreciated....again thank you....M'

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
your very welcome. I would not cut them per say, but what about filing them with a nail file/emery board? the bad pointy ones?? you can pm me a photo if you want?? That will be a tedious job for sure but if your worried about him poking everyone to pieces it might help?

 

[stilldeb]

I have a frizzle Cochin roo with the same problem and here is what I did...and yes, I believe it is genetic AND nutritional...and he appears to not be a frazzle (frizzle to frizzle). My poor little Freddy was so bald and his skin underneath was red. So, when he was in the coop, the hens would see that red skin and peck him as well and he didn't stand a chance - he was naked.

So I did a couple of things...made him a 'private suite' in a cage in the garage where he sleeps at night, and a small run next to his glrls where he stays during the day where nobody can peck him, AND I switched his diet to game bird/show bird feed, 24% protein, and got him off of layer feed.

He is growing feathers like crazy! At first, he looked like a porcupine with spiny quills all over, but now he has little curly frizzle feathers coming out of all of them. I am hoping that once he is covered with feathers, he can go back with his girls...but will watch very closely to make sure nobody is pecking him, although I still do not believe that was the cause of it - there are too many people on here with frizzle Cochins who have had the same problem. I will also either have to feed them all game bird feed or feed him separately.

Good luck with your frizzle. My Freddy never got very big on the outside - I call him our little 'punky rooster' - but he is very big on the inside and struts around like he owns the place...but he also likes to sit on my lap on the porch swing.

deb g
KY

 

[batznthebelfry]

thank you for the wonderful info Deb, now on the gamebird/show bird feed will it hurt the hens I have with him?...they are all older birds but a few still lay occationally ( the youngest one is 3 yrs old)....he is in the basement coop with only 4 girls so I would hate to separate him if I can keep from it but will if its important to his health.....& you are right his bare areas look like major sunburn specially the rump area & chest area....I had thought of putting him in a handmade shirt but I am afraid even though the basement coop stays around 50 degrees when he is out in their run he might over heat....thank you...M'