Injured roo ripped out tail feathers

[apryl29]

Thank you all for the support and replies. I haven't had a chance to rinse his tail end to see the damage because the weather got down to the 40s and didn't want him to get wet. The weather is supposed to warm up this weekend so I can assess his blood feathers. None of the chickens have pecked at him.

Glad to hear they're leaving him alone. I think my girls are just jerks b/c I have a white egger that was molting pretty bad and the same ones who keep going after my leghorn were ripping out her pin feathers. I ended up caging her for about a week until she filled in enough for them to leave her alone. No one else messed with her.. some are just worse than others. The same girls kept aggressively trying to eat my fingernails b/c I had on nail polish. They'd sit and watch me, waiting for a chance to grab one. Once I took off the nail polish they watched my hands and realized the colors were gone and haven't tried to peck them again. Once something catches their eye they just keep going after it.

 

[Robert G]

Well, he's still doing good. The blood has dried up. None of the other chickens peck on him. Will his feathers eventually fall off? I thought he was a leghorn but recently a friend of mine told me he is a Phoenix?

 

[apryl29]

Well, he's still doing good. The blood has dried up. None of the other chickens peck on him. Will his feathers eventually fall off? I thought he was a leghorn but recently a friend of mine told me he is a Phoenix?
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They will, but not until he molts. I'd eventually try to wash his feathers off. You might wait until you're sure he's fully healed that way you don't end up dislodging any scabs and reopening any wounds. If he's nice enough to let you catch him you could try giving him a little soak or wiping him down w/ a wet washcloth. If he's not then it will likely wash off in the rain eventually. Personally, I'd try cleaning him up a little just to keep any others from noticing that he's different or getting the taste of blood.

 

[Robert G]

They will, but not until he molts. I'd eventually try to wash his feathers off. You might wait until you're sure he's fully healed that way you don't end up dislodging any scabs and reopening any wounds. If he's nice enough to let you catch him you could try giving him a little soak or wiping him down w/ a wet washcloth. If he's not then it will likely wash off in the rain eventually. Personally, I'd try cleaning him up a little just to keep any others from noticing that he's different or getting the taste of blood.

He is nice when he wants to be. I will try to wipe him down this weekend. Today a young rooster started fighting with him. Rushed to separate them before the young one did any harm to his healing. I'm listing all my young roosters on craigslist this weekend. Hopefully they will get some new nice homes.

 

[Robert G]

Here are the young devils causing havoc. Half white phoenix and black cochin. They are going on 4 months in March.

 

[apryl29]

Here are the young devils causing havoc. Half white phoenix and black cochin. They are going on 4 months in March.
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They're gorgeous! I hope you're able to find them homes. I had a buff orp cockerel that I ended up rehoming b/c when he finally matured he was picking fights w/ my bantam cockerel. I have a video of them attacking each other through a fence. The funny part is that before he matured, the bantam thought the buff was female and kept doing his wing dance for him. Oops!

 

[Robert G]

They're gorgeous! I hope you're able to find them homes. I had a buff orp cockerel that I ended up rehoming b/c when he finally matured he was picking fights w/ my bantam cockerel. I have a video of them attacking each other through a fence. The funny part is that before he matured, the bantam thought the buff was female and kept doing his wing dance for him. Oops!

Thanks. It's funny how they would get along fine until their hormones kicked on.

 

[apryl29]

That's how my boys were too. I actually had no idea my buff orp was a boy until my kids noticed he was acting different. I had to ask people on here to tell me what he was. The other 2 were obvious. My bantam started trying to crow very early on & Odin's comb gave him away, but Steve was a shocker for all of us, esp b/c the place we got him from said they ONLY get girls. We were 'lucky' and got the boy.

 

[Robert G]

That's how my boys were too. I actually had no idea my buff orp was a boy until my kids noticed he was acting different. I had to ask people on here to tell me what he was. The other 2 were obvious. My bantam started trying to crow very early on & Odin's comb gave him away, but Steve was a shocker for all of us, esp b/c the place we got him from said they ONLY get girls. We were 'lucky' and got the boy.

Today I noticed I have 2 more young roosters. Funny thing that old english bantams mature faster than cochins? I thought I had 5 female cochins, but today I noticed 2 of them are starting to grow a larger comb. The other 3 are still the same. So on the list they will go.

 

[alexa009]

Hope your roo gets better! Has the same look as my barred rock but here was from a possum attack.