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Manhattan

Chirping
Aug 15, 2024
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I am new to BackYard Chickens and am thoroughly enjoying exploring this very informative site! I have 5 chickens and 1 rooster. My chicken was originally named Emmy Lou, but became Feather Foot after we learned our chicken was a rooster :) We love him and admire the way he protects his flock of 5.

I have noticed his legs are becoming a little red and I am closely watching this. His neck feathers were being pulled out by the chickens a few weeks ago and then the chickens would peck at it so I treated him for mites with a mite spray and diatomaceous earth in his dust bath and now his feathers are growing back and the chickens are leaving him alone, however his neck is still red. Could be slightly sunburn due to the feathers gone? could be mites? could be high blood flow due to getting new feathers?

If anyone has any ideas or advice as to what is going on, would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!
 
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Debbie292d said:
Hiya, and welcome to BYC! :frow You may want to post this in our Emergency Forum for more help.

Sunburn is a possibility. If it feels warm, you can put aloe vera gel on it.

Two main reasons usually cause feather picking by chickens; overcrowding and too low of protein in their diet.
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Thank you for your response. I currently have a coop and run that is made for 10 chickens but I only have 5. I wasn't sure if the chickens were pulling out featherfoot's neck feathers but saw them pecking his neck. I did post this to the Emergency Forum per your advice. Thank you for that!!!
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
Manhattan said:
I currently have a coop and run that is made for 10 chickens
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This sounds like a prefab coop. If it says it's made for 10 you can probably fit 3. It sounds like you more than likely have an overcrowding issue that needs to be resolved with a larger coop and a much, much larger run. But please post pictures of your setup for clarification.
Red legs on a cockerel coming into sexual maturity is generally just a hormone flush and is perfectly normal.
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow

A chickens skin, not including legs which will redden due to hormones, will color up red in areas that have lost feathers, even skin that does not have mites. The skin is trying to protect itself. If possible you can use crop bras, hen saddles, handkerchiefs or thin scarves to protect areas on their bodies from feather plucking until feathers grow back. Just make sure they don't get tangled in them.

Best wishes with your flock!
 

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