Is my rooster getting eaten??

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

I have a rooster who possibly has something not right with him. Is always sort of off balance/clumsy, i think he may have something up with one eye but that's only really back story to what I'd like opinions on with this post.
For a while now he always gets these little sores on his comb. I keep an eye on them but I don't know what causes them so I don't know how to prevent them. Probably only in this last week I've noticed the feathers on his neck completely deteriorate, everyday looking worse and today there's injuries to his skin. I'm wondering if this is mice/rats. With him being slow etc, I'm wondering if they're going after him while he sleeps. He lives with only two hens, both of which I would not expect bullying behaviour from, this is also kind of subtle too and I feel like if they chose to pick on him it'd be far more severe.
Tonight I've taken him away from the pen and am keeping him seperate in the shed.

 

[50-45-1]

Please do research on Fowl Pox.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think this may be from peck wounds on the comb or feather picking on the neck. Mice and rats can bite toes. If there are rodents, it would be good to get rid of them, since besides biting, they will bring in mites, worms, and eat the food.

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Please do research on Fowl Pox.

I'm somewhat aware what fowl pox is and dont think he has that. These start as wounds and scab over, there's no swelling, lumps or otherwise raised areas. None of my other chicken show signs of it either.

I think this may be from peck wounds on the comb or feather picking on the neck. Mice and rats can bite toes. If there are rodents, it would be good to get rid of them, since besides biting, they will bring in mites, worms, and eat the food.

They're dirt floor pens. I don’t really know if there's a way to truly get rid of any rodents but I do not leave food out.
I guess another reason I don't know if I believe this is picking from the hens is that I've not seen them even show interest in the comb when the spots are fresh and there is blood. They're rarely actually made worse.
My plan currently is to seperate him at night and put him back outside during the day as it’s too hot for him to be kept in the shed. I'll monitor for bullying throughout the day.

 

[bravecoconut]

A camera in to coop will show you lots of things to include rats/mice, bullying, or him wacking his head on something. I would look hard for mites and/or lice as well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

He lives with only two hens, both of which I would not expect bullying behaviour from, this is also kind of subtle too and I feel like if they chose to pick on him it'd be far more severe.

I guess another reason I don't know if I believe this is picking from the hens is that I've not seen them even show interest in the comb when the spots are fresh and there is blood.

Do other roosters have access to him?

The picture below, there's bruising, where is that located on his body?

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

A camera in to coop will show you lots of things to include rats/mice, bullying, or him wacking his head on something.

A camera would be a good idea. I do not have one though and dont know when/if i coild get one...

I would look hard for mites and/or lice as well.

I definitely have not seen any lice on him, I deal with them semi regularly so have a habit of checking chickens whenever I pick them up. Mites, I guess are possible, harder for me to spot though...

Do other roosters have access to him?

Nope. Only the two hens. A sussex and a sussex/frizzle mix. He's a big sussex himself, my biggest chicken actually.

The picture below, there's bruising, where is that located on his body?

View attachment 4247426

Base of the neck, directly between his shoulders.

This was it tonight after he spent the whole day unsupervised back with the hens (I was working). If they're picking on him it's really inconsistent...

 

[50-45-1]

It occurs to me that he may be bruising or rubbing himself against something.
I wonder about the chicken access door on your coop. Is it adequate size for him?
What type of feeder and waterer do you have.
Pictures of your set up may help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Base of the neck, directly between his shoulders.

This was it tonight after he spent the whole day unsupervised back with the hens (I was working). If they're picking on him it's really inconsistent...

This is an area he can possibly reach himself.

Do you see any lice or mites on him?

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

It occurs to me that he may be bruising or rubbing himself against something.
I wonder about the chicken access door on your coop. Is it adequate size for him?
What type of feeder and waterer do you have.
Pictures of your set up may help.

I don't have pictures but I can get some later on. There really is nothing he could really be hurting himself on... It's not really a coop as it is more a walk in shed/aviary? Three walls are just tin, the door/forth wall is mesh and human sized, not that he actually uses it.
Food and water bowls are like porcelain? Might be some chipped edges on the feed bowl but it's just a dog bowl and not very big.
Again, I'll try to get some pics.

This is an area he can possibly reach himself.

True. But he has damaged feathers all up his neck? And that small bruise near his head in my first post...

Do you see any lice or mites on him?

I have not seen lice. I have not seen lice eggs either. I can have a more thorough look though. I've never really had mites, are they hard to spot?