Rooster off balance

[fishstick]

I just bought a flock of Barred Rocks that consist of six 5 month old hens and one rooster the same age. They were kept in a small pen with a flock of Black Australorps with their rooster of about the same age. Both roosters had all of their tail feathers missing but my Barred Rock rooster has his pope's nose and preening gland pecked off. I am guessing that he will never grow any tail feathers now. He seems to be way over balanced toward his head and doesn't crow. Is he worth saving? I put some antibiotic cream on his tail nub and it is not bloody but is raw. Will he always be off balance without a tail? He seems to have trouble breeding also. I appreciate any helpful info.

 

[Kiki]

Could you post a few pic of him. I personally have never heard of a chicken being off balanced because they were missing feathers. You are probably dealing with something a little more complicated then just feathers.

 

[fishstick]

I couldn't get a closeup but maybe this will help. I'm pretty sure that the two roosters pecked each other pretty badly being in such close quarters.

 

[fishstick]

View attachment 1095844 View attachment 1095833 View attachment 1095843 View attachment 1095844 View attachment 1095845 I couldn't get a closeup but maybe this will help. I'm pretty sure that the two roosters pecked each other pretty badly being in such close quarters.[/QUOTE]
Sorry for the multiple shots.

 

[Kiki]

Keep a close eye on them...
If they draw blood one each other all the other chickens might start pecking that area too.
I'd be sure to separate the two roosters for good.
Are you going to be able to enlarge their coop?
Having too many in too small of an area is going to cause a lot more problems.

Again....If he is "off balance" I'm not sure i can offer any advice.

 

[fishstick]

Keep a close eye on them...
If they draw blood one each other all the other chickens might start pecking that area too.
I'd be sure to separate the two roosters for good.
Are you going to be able to enlarge their coop?
Having too many in too small of an area is going to cause a lot more problems.

Again....If he is "off balance" I'm not sure i can offer any advice.

He and the flock are at my home now with plenty of room and no other roosters around. without a tail for balance he is comical to watch trying to mate.

 

[AquaDuck]

Ouch! He sure has some feathers missing!
He'll hopefully grow those back when it's molting time later this year, but even if he don't it's not a death sentence. The balance issue is probably due to that he's used to have a tail and now he doesn't. He'll get used to it, and if it turns out to be permanent I'm sure he'll be fine with it. The fact that he's trying to mate is a sign that he's feeling all right and don't have an infection or anything bad.

Give him natural vitamin supplements, boiled eggs, fresh vegetables and other stuff that will help his recovery. And keep a close eye on that rump!

 

[fishstick]

Ouch! He sure has some feathers missing!
He'll hopefully grow those back when it's molting time later this year, but even if he don't it's not a death sentence. The balance issue is probably due to that he's used to have a tail and now he doesn't. He'll get used to it, and if it turns out to be permanent I'm sure he'll be fine with it. The fact that he's trying to mate is a sign that he's feeling all right and don't have an infection or anything bad.

Give him natural vitamin supplements, boiled eggs, fresh vegetables and other stuff that will help his recovery. And keep a close eye on that rump!

I'll watch him closely.