Rodney the Rooster

[Clarebaxter]

Thanks for the input and education. I was hoping that he would grow all those lovely feathers but oh well, he really is a sweet rooster. I don't plan on raising any chicks from my birds so his genes will end with him. Next time I will go to a reputable breeder. I did get him off Craig's List so I can't really complain too much that he isn't better formed. Newbie mistake. It is hard not to be impatience but next time I will do my research.

He is my boy though and will have a home for as long as he remains so sweet to me!

 

[aoxa]

He IS bearded, just has been plucked (probably by the girls - as they do this picking food from them.. it's love )

He looks like he is in a state of molt, and has some pretty nasty leg mites. You will want to treat him ASAP.

 

[Clarebaxter]

How do I treat the mites? Will do so today. Should I treat everyone?

 

[Clarebaxter]

O.K. I just did some research and am going out to get supplies to treat him and the girls. I am going to wash his feet and legs, use lanolin oil and then petroleum jelly. I will clean the coop, dust with DE and go from there. I have two weeks before I leave town for ten days so need to get on this asap. I want to thank you so much for pointing this out. Brand new to chickens so I don't have much experience but am willing to do the work.

None of the girls feet look infected but I will treat them all anyway.

 

[walkingcrow3]

I made the mistake of purchasing 5 white silkie chicks from my local feed mill. They are bantam sized. Only one ended up being a pullet. The other four are roosters. Each one has different stages of puffiness. My puffiest silkie looks like he had someone slap a huge black gob of chewing gum on his head for his comb. And his head not only has full puff but there are white stringy feathers poling out longer on the top of his head. The other ones have no puffs at all, not even the female. And as much as I hand held them the hen is the meanest silkie I have ever came across in my life!! She is a little runt. lol The roosters are all very nice and polite.

 

[Clarebaxter]

I just soaked Rodney feet, rubbed them with Neem/Aloe gel and then coated them with petroleum jelly. He was very confused! I will clean the coop this afternoon. I am going to spray it with Neem/Tea Tree oil and then dust it with DE.

I know for a fact that neem oil works. After I got scabies, from a very expensive hotel in NY, I used neem and tea tree oil to get rid of them and it worked like a charm. I believe that scabies are also a type of mite.

None of the hens look like they have the mites so far.

I have to say that Rodney has the weirdest feet ever.

My first chicken first aid experience!

Thank you for your help and support! I love Backyard Chickens.

 

[aoxa]

I just soaked Rodney feet, rubbed them with Neem/Aloe gel and then coated them with petroleum jelly. He was very confused! I will clean the coop this afternoon. I am going to spray it with Neem/Tea Tree oil and then dust it with DE.

I know for a fact that neem oil works. After I got scabies, from a very expensive hotel in NY, I used neem and tea tree oil to get rid of them and it worked like a charm. I believe that scabies are also a type of mite.

None of the hens look like they have the mites so far.

I have to say that Rodney has the weirdest feet ever.

My first chicken first aid experience!

Thank you for your help and support! I love Backyard Chickens.

No problem at all Leg mites are quite easy to treat, but it does take a while for the scales to slough off and grow back all neat and clean.

Did he seem to have any other parasites?

 

[Clarebaxter]

He doesn't look like he has any other parasites. I looked under his feathers at his skin and around his face and couldn't see anything. I have to say I enjoyed treating and taking care of him and he was quite nice about it. His legs look better already. It was quite funny to see him running around the yard with leaves sticking to his feet. Should I treat him everyday?

I cleaned out all the pine shavings from the coop, wiped down everything with tea tree oil/eucalyptus oil (that is what I had on hand), dusted everything with DE (especially the corners) and then added clean fresh shavings. I have to say the linoleum I put down made things very easy. I put the old shavings in the garbage not the compost. I also wiped down the roosts and sprinkled them with DE. I will do the small outside yard tomorrow. They have a small yard 7x13 and I let them out to run around the big side yard during the day. They were very amused by my frantic work in the coop and kept coming in to see what I was up to.

It will take time to gain experience, hopefully we all survive my ignorance. I was pretty impressed how much you noticed just from pictures. Rodney is molting, so you were right about that too!

I love having chickens!

Thanks again for everything.

 

[aoxa]

He doesn't look like he has any other parasites. I looked under his feathers at his skin and around his face and couldn't see anything. I have to say I enjoyed treating and taking care of him and he was quite nice about it. His legs look better already. It was quite funny to see him running around the yard with leaves sticking to his feet. Should I treat him everyday?

I cleaned out all the pine shavings from the coop, wiped down everything with tea tree oil/eucalyptus oil (that is what I had on hand), dusted everything with DE (especially the corners) and then added clean fresh shavings. I have to say the linoleum I put down made things very easy. I put the old shavings in the garbage not the compost. I also wiped down the roosts and sprinkled them with DE. I will do the small outside yard tomorrow. They have a small yard 7x13 and I let them out to run around the big side yard during the day. They were very amused by my frantic work in the coop and kept coming in to see what I was up to.

It will take time to gain experience, hopefully we all survive my ignorance. I was pretty impressed how much you noticed just from pictures. Rodney is molting, so you were right about that too!

I love having chickens!

Thanks again for everything.

Neem oil the roosts - works really good for getting rid of creepy crawlies naturally

I'm glad you took action. Treat him every day if you have time for a week, or every other day. At least 3 times.

To get the scales to slough off you will have to soak a few times in an epson salt bath.

 

[Clarebaxter]

I think I am ready for an epson salt bath! I will treat him everyday. I really feel bad that I did realize he had a problem. Oh well, learn something new everyday! I am going to put together a first aid kit for them so I am not running around when something arises.

Thanks again!