My rooster has a skin problem

[fowlenheim]

I was told this is mites, but I'm not sure and I don't know what the best treatment is.
He is the only chicken effected.
It started as what looked to be a few feathers mising, but it has gotten much worse quickly.
Not it is bleeding and he is pecking at it.
Other than this he has no symptoms.
Any help would be apreciated.
TYIA

 

[Eggcessive]

Is this wound on his breast bone (keel?) It might be a breast blister from pressure on his keel from the roost or frommroosting on the ground. It looks to be thick and possibly abscessed. I would clean it with chlorhexidene 2% or Betadine, and apply an antibiotic ointment twice daily. If you think it is a breast blister, make sure that his roost is smoothe, or if he sleeps on the floor, that his bedding is dry.

 

[fowlenheim]

Is this wound on his breast bone (keel?) It might be a breast blister from pressure on his keel from the roost or frommroosting on the ground. It looks to be thick and possibly abscessed. I would clean it with chlorhexidene 2% or Betadine, and apply an antibiotic ointment twice daily. If you think it is a breast blister, make sure that his roost is smoothe, or if he sleeps on the floor, that his bedding is dry.

He likes to roost in a tree or on my porch railing. He has never roosted on the ground or on anything but his feet.

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be rough where he roosts, but I would check it out to make sure that it is not a wound from a predator or other rooster.

 

[fowlenheim]

It could be rough where he roosts, but I would check it out to make sure that it is not a wound from a predator or other rooster.

I only have one rooster. I honestly don't know what it is, but I know it has gotten worse over the weeks. The extension agent said it was a result of mites after looking at the picture but told me to consult a veterinarian.
This bird has never been handled and I don't know how to catch him or how he would react to being caught. He has long spurs too.

Thanks for your help.

 

[CluckerFamily]

Catching him is best at night when he can't see well.

 

[Eggcessive]

They can be handled more easily after dark while on a roost, but if he roosts high up, it would probably be impossible. If you could catch him, placing him inna dog crate with food and water would be a way to handle him more easily. But don’t endanger yourself.

 

[fowlenheim]

2 weeks have passed so I thought I would follow up on this, although it seems few are interested...
A couple of days after this post the bird took a turn for the worse. The effected area was bleeding from a crater that I suspect was pecked into it by the hens or by the rooster himself. I could see what looked to me like worms in the wound. These worms or maggots were about 1/2" long.
The bird started losing color in his comb. It had changed from a bright red to a pale pink/grey hue. I started to think I needed to bring an end to this before he was to suffer much more. I really didn't think he was going to make it so I got my .410 from the closet.
It seemed to me that a 5 lb rooster (estimated) probably doesn't have that much blood to start with and this guy was dripping blood at a terrifying rate.
The next day, he had separated himself from the others and had taken refuge in the garage. I decided to get some better food for him as he was not able to forage like he usually does. I went to the feed store and bought " Game bird conditioning" food by FRM. I fed him every chance I could find him, as he was keeping himself scarce. Luckily I had a few days off from work and I could make sure he had food and water as often as I could locate him. When I did find him I could smell the infection, his feathers were soaked in blood, but he never lost his appetite, he kept eating, although it was not much, not like he usually did.

I should probably let you know that this rooster was a volunteer...that is to say one day about 5 years ago, he just showed up here. I don't know where he came from but I liked him immediately because he would always call the hens to eat before he did. If he found a lizard, or a a grass hopper he would stand next to it and call the hens over too it and let them have it.
I suppose this is typical behavior for roosters but I don't know as this is the only one I have ever encountered.
About a week ago he started to improve, the bleeding stopped and the outer shell of the abscess looked to be drying up and getting smaller.
Today I'm pretty confident that this problem is behind him, I think he going to make it.
I can post some pictures if anybody is interested.

I am think thinking that this may have been an the result a of an insect that was able to get under this rooster's skin and lay eggs. Not unlike a bot fly will infiltrate a squirrel's body . In this case the fly was not a single larva like a bot fly, but layed eggs more like a bottle fly.
This rooster likes to roost high in a tree, by himself. None of the other birds do this and none of the other birds have any issues.
I really have no idea but it seems to me the other hens would have had a similar problems if it was mites or a disease of some kind.
Anyway...I'm really glad I did not give up on him.

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad to hear that he is doing much better and recovering. I’m not sure why you think few were interested in your thread. We usually post after a relpy. I’m glad that he made it, bcause I enjoy having a good rooster with my hens. They also love a good rooster who calls them to food and treats.