Rooster Head is bleeding

[chicks4polo]

My roosters head is bloody because other chickens have been pecking it bare. He hasn't been crowing much recently, and I think he's sick. Something's wrong with him. Normally he's the first to eat but now he's the last chicken to eat too. What should I do?

 

[sourland]

Have you checked him for lice/mites? I would remove him from the flock until he completes the molt on his crest.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is he molting? Is he your only rooster? I agree that he should be removed or placed in a wire dog crate with his own food and water. If he is molting he may feel sick and be puny. I have had them just go off by themselves, or let a junior cockerel take over the flock. Monitor his eating and drinking, and get back to us.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I agree, I'd check him really well for lice and mites. Looks like there's nits in the crest feathers.

Permethrin poultry dust can be found at TSC, give him and the flock a good dusting in 5-7day intervals.
Use Permethrin poultry spray to treat your coop/housing.

 

[chicks4polo]

thank you all for the help. But I believe it was actually the hens pecking him We isolated him and we're waiting until he gets better.

 

[chicks4polo]

Is he molting? Is he your only rooster? I agree that he should be removed or placed in a wire dog crate with his own food and water. If he is molting he may feel sick and be puny. I have had them just go off by themselves, or let a junior cockerel take over the flock. Monitor his eating and drinking, and get back to us.

yeah he is our only rooster so we really want him to survive. His eating and drinking started out really bad, he would stand with his head on the floor and refuse to eat or drink, but we learned that he just needs to "wake up." Now he eats and drinks normally and we have seen improvements. His feathers are growing back. He unfortunately has lost an eye due to a hen pecking it out (I think) but he is otherwise in way better shape than he was a week ago.