Help with polish crested rooster.

[Dona Worry]

My little man Nardole is 5 months old, and I noticed last night he looks a little rough. I've had him just over a month.
It looks like someone is pulling the feathers out of his crest on the back of his head, and he is really skinny. I am not sure *exactly* how much he weighs, but he is very boney when compared to the pullets, all of whom are much younger. I'm not sure what to do about it. I haven't noticed any problems in the flock, they all seem to get along really well, (except for Romana and Clara; Romana picks on Clara). They go in on their own to roost at night, and I usually let them out early enough in the morning that most of them (including Nardole) are still roosting, so it should not be a crowding issue. So, it is either happening on the roost somehow, or during the day when they free range. They do return to the coop throughout the day to eat and drink, but there are two doors, so he is unlikely to be trapped in there by anyone, and anyways, I've spent a lot of time watching these birds and never seen anyone chase him off of anything, not even a prized strawberry.
Is it normal for this breed and/or age to be so skinny? And what do I do about his poor feathers?
I don't have a picture of the back of his head, but here he is getting some cuddle time and treats.
I feed a flock start and grow feed. I would have to check the protein levels, I can't remember off the top of my head.

 

[Eggcessive]

He is likely being kept from water or food by others. Young cockerels can be bullied easily during their adolescence by others, either hens or other roosters. Place multiple feed and water stations inside and away from the coop to give him a chance to get enough. But also feed him some chopped egg and other high protein treats. Consider separating him for a few days in a wire dog crate with his own food and water. But keep him in view of his flock.

Polish chickens can have problems seeing well, and others may peck out their head feathers. Try trimming his feathers around his eyes. I raised 2 hens who each lost head feathers to pecking very young, and it happened to them randomly at least once a year. It starts gradually, and can escalate to complete baldness over several days. I had good luck spraying with blukote every other day to cover the red bare spots. Once one was totally scalped by a rooster, and that required separation, neosporin to the scalp, and later BluKote when it scabbed over. It took a month before new feathers started coming in. The new feathers can be very tempting, so keep up with BluKote until feathers are totally grown back.

 

[Dona Worry]

He is likely being kept from water or food by others. Young cockerels can be bullied easily during their adolescence by others, either hens or other roosters. Place multiple feed and water stations inside and away from the coop to give him a chance to get enough. But also feed him some chopped egg and other high protein treats. Consider separating him for a few days in a wire dog crate with his own food and water. But keep him in view of his flock.

Polish chickens can have problems seeing well, and others may peck out their head feathers. Try trimming his feathers around his eyes. I raised 2 hens who each lost head feathers to pecking very young, and it happened to them randomly at least once a year. It starts gradually, and can escalate to complete baldness over several days. I had good luck spraying with blukote every other day to cover the red bare spots. Once one was totally scalped by a rooster, and that required separation, neosporin to the scalp, and later BluKote when it scabbed over. It took a month before new feathers started coming in. The new feathers can be very tempting, so keep up with BluKote until feathers are totally grown back.

He seems extremely anxious and hates being away from the flock. I'm not sure keeping him separated would help him out, as the rest free range and he would not be able to see them at least part of the day.
Could I use some bandage tape to cover the area they peck and keep them off of it, or will that do more harm than good?
I could put him in a kennel at night when I shut them in, and let him out in the morning. If he is getting beat up on the roost that will help.

 

[Dona Worry]

This is the feed they are on. Is it ok, or since they are free ranging should I switch them to something with a higher protein?

 

[Eggcessive]

I cannot see any picture of feed. If you put a bandage on it, they will peck and rip it off more than likely. There is the BluKote spray that you can get online or at feed stores. Some stores have Wound Kote that is more violet than blue. Gentian Violet, the blue color in BlueKote is available in first aid aisles at Walmart and pharmacies. Another thing to use is AluShield or AluSpray, available online and in some stores in the horse section. It is a silver wound spray that covers the red wound.

Can you keep him with the flock, in a dog crate, and move him in and out of your coop? It is always nice to have a wire dog crate available for separating sick birds, bullied ones, or when you have to break a broody hen. I have even built pens with extra wood and hardware cloth, but the dog crates are lighter to move around.

 

[Eggcessive]

 

[Dona Worry]

I cannot see any picture of feed. If you put a bandage on it, they will peck and rip it off more than likely. There is the BluKote spray that you can get online or at feed stores. Some stores have Wound Kote that is more violet than blue. Gentian Violet, the blue color in BlueKote is available in first aid aisles at Walmart and pharmacies. Another thing to use is AluShield or AluSpray, available online and in some stores in the horse section. It is a silver wound spray that covers the red wound.

Can you keep him with the flock, in a dog crate, and move him in and out of your coop? It is always nice to have a wire dog crate available for separating sick birds, bullied ones, or when you have to break a broody hen. I have even built pens with extra wood and hardware cloth, but the dog crates are lighter to move around.

Oops.

He is just so anxious, and the other birds roam the property so much that they will almost always be out of sight no matter where I put him. I have a nice big calf hutch, and can easily toss up a small fence in front of it during the day, I'm just worried he'll panic when he can't see his flock.
I also have a wire dog kennel, and can easily put him in there at night.

 

[Eggcessive]

That feed is fine for a growing cockerel. With flock dynamics, he just might not be getting his share. When I have young cockerels in my flock, I put small bowls of feed and extra water out in farther areas where they can get plenty. They tend to hide and sneak around from the bigger or higher pecking order chickens. I also will scramble some of my older eggs, and chop them into pieces, and toss them out so everyone gets some.

 

[Dona Worry]

That feed is fine for a growing cockerel. With flock dynamics, he just might not be getting his share. When I have young cockerels in my flock, I put small bowls of feed and extra water out in farther areas where they can get plenty. They tend to hide and sneak around from the bigger or higher pecking order chickens. I also will scramble some of my older eggs, and chop them into pieces, and toss them out so everyone gets some.

I spent a lot of time spying on them today. I wonder if he just hasn't adjusted to free ranging yet? I put out more food and water, then watched from the kitchen. He is obviously the top of the pecking order--when he walks in they make room-- but he seems extremely anxious. He didn't settle down and peck like the pullets, scratch around, dust bathe, etc. Just paced around and spooked at shadows.
He went from a very small pen with his 3 hatchmates, to a big coop amd a run with 9 other chicks, to free ranging, all in a matter of weeks, and I wonder if he is just overwhelmed, and that's why he's lost weight?
I think tonight I'll try and trim his feathers so he can see, and put him in a crate so they don't pick at his head. I bet if he starts out tomorrow able to see and without a sore head he'll start doing much better.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sounds like you are on top of things. Hope it helps.