Rooster lost A LOT of feathers in a dog attack

[Kurczaklover]

We presently have around 35 hens, 3 roosters and 9 chicks. They free range during the day most days. This morning we had a neighbors 3 dogs come for a visit (their new dog dug out and the other 2 followed, the situation has already been resolved).

We are very fortunate to have not lost lost anyone due to our dogs rapid response getting my attention and me running screaming and carrying on, though everyone was understandably shook up, me included.

However, our head Roo took one for the team, giving the other 2 roosters a chance to get everyone out of harms way. If it wasn't so horrific, I would say it was a beautiful thing to see. He doesn't appear injured. In fact, he stealthily went around the property for about 2 hours checking on each group hiding in different spots. He kept doing this, coaxing hens 2 and 3 at a time from each group, escorting them almost to the coop, and I walked with the group while he went and got another, the other 2 roosters came back last with him. Electrolytes in their water, special veggie and fruit ice blocks, and visual inspections, and me hovering all day, we have survived. But he looks rough, and I am worried about the amount of feathers he lost. He looks like, well, a freshly plucked chicken on the right side of his rump. Is there anything I need to be doing for him? We will of course continue monitoring for any signs of injury.

 

[Debbie292d]

Wow, what a great rooster! So glad everyone made it out of what could have been a sad disaster!

I would just up his protein which helps chickens' feathers grow. You can get a feed called Feather Fixer or the simplest, least expensive way, is look for a 20% protein all-flock. We use Kalmbach's Flock Maker crumbles for ours.

Other high-protein foods are scrambled eggs, tuna in water, etc.

 

[Kurczaklover]

Wow, what a great rooster! So glad everyone made it out of what could have been a sad disaster!

I would just up his protein which helps chickens' feathers grow. You can get a feed called Feather Fixer or the simplest, least expensive way, is look for a 20% protein all-flock. We use Kalmbach's Flock Maker crumbles for ours.

Other high-protein foods are scrambled eggs, tuna in water, etc.

We just switched about a week ago to a 20% protein feed because of the new chicks we hatched, but I think some scrambled eggs and dry old fashioned oats for breakfast will make all of us feel better.

Interesting side note. We have one hen with one chick, she shoved the baby into the crook of a tree and smooshed in on top looking meaner then a snake. Our Australorp hen has 8 chicks, one 2 weeks old tomorrow, 2-1 week old tomorrow, one 4 days old and 4-3 days old. She was on top the coop, and all the chicks looked dead. I started to gather them and they popped back to life and she came running about 2 minutes later, gathering them all up. It was almost like she told them to play dead.