Rooster pecked in the butt

[BDutch]

10% protein is extremely poor. The bare minimum is 18%.
I suggest to integrate minced meat, fish, cottage cheese, and extra eggs if available to increase protein levels.
Low protein food often causes pecking issues.

18 % minimum is not true. And certainly not for heritage breeds and free ranging chickens.

Other chickens than the hybrid laying machines who lay less eggs and have access to to other food do not need so much proteins at all.

But 10% protein for layers is very low. The organic layer feed in my country has 11,8 - 17,1 % proteins*.
Supplements can be insects they find by themselves or insect mix, mealworms, etc.
I wouldn’t give salted cheese or other salted human food.

PS: Adjusted the protein levels in organic feed after a bit of research.
My brand has 17,1% protein.

 

[RiccardoR]

I changed the diet, point is that I wad stupid and he was not fully recovered.

Is he at risk with those broken tail feathers?

 

[WingItRanch]

Dear all. Today after 10 days I have tried to re-introduce my rooster in the flock as I saw him doing better and after having applied a deterrent to prevent pecking. Result is that my hens have pecked him badly and he started bleeding again. I have confined him again. He has lots of broken tail feathers. What should I do? Should I let him heal alone?

Clean him up and check for severe injuries. You can spray with vetericyn. He may be able to grow out new feathers. I'd keep him separated for now until he's fully healed. The other chickens will see the red of the blood and it was attract them to attack more.

You mentioned he was born with a handicap? Sometimes a weakness will cause bullying.

 

[RiccardoR]

Indeed, he has the fingers (I assume you call them like that?) not straight and he walks strange. But he does his job as a rooster. He is the only one by the way. Will hens attack a rooster even if handicapped?

By the way I was shocked when I saw all that blood …

 

[BDutch]

I changed the diet, point is that I wad stupid and he was not fully recovered.

Is he at risk with those broken tail feathers?

You can mix the layer feed with a new bag of chick feed. Chick feed has more protein (in general). Supplement calcium on the side.

My organic chick feed has 19,8% protein.

 

[WingItRanch]

Indeed, he has the fingers (I assume you call them like that?) not straight and he walks strange. But he does his job as a rooster. He is the only one by the way. Will hens attack a rooster even if handicapped?

By the way I was shocked when I saw all that blood …

Yeah the amount of blood some injuries will spill is pretty freaky. Especially if it was a frenzied attack. Poor guy!

A rooster has to earn the respect and dominate the hens or they will not submit. How old are they? Cockerels (male chickens under 1 year of age) typically take time to earn that respect. If he's handicapped, he might never be able to mount them. You may have to consider giving him away if he's not fitting in.

Are you watching to hatch eggs and breed? If not, you really don't need a rooster.

 

[RiccardoR]

Yeah the amount of blood some injuries will spill is pretty freaky. Especially if it was a frenzied attack. Poor guy!

A rooster has to earn the respect and dominate the hens or they will not submit. How old are they? Cockerels (male chickens under 1 year of age) typically take time to earn that respect. If he's handicapped, he might never be able to mount them. You may have to consider giving him away if he's not fitting in.

Are you watching to hatch eggs and breed? If not, you really don't need a rooster.

I have only hens, all less than one year old. I kept him because he is a “life” and I did not want to waste it. I am vegetarian and I would never harm animals

 

[BDutch]

I have only hens, all less than one year old. I kept him because he is a “life” and I did not want to waste it. I am vegetarian and I would never harm animals

How badly is he handicapped?
What breed (s) do you have?

If you can keep a rooster and you have seem him mounting on a hen I would give it another try to separate him jntil he has healed completely.

Wouldn’t it be great to have some offspring in the season (April, Mai or June) with one of your hens as a broody?

I never killed my cockerels either. I give them away/sell them for a modest €1 - €5 if I have any after a hatch. Always ask in what circumstances he will live after he moves. Many found a real good home with other girls to keep company.

 

[RiccardoR]

He walks strange but he is very active being a rooster, he attacks the dog and birds and he tries mounting hens. From what I could see, he tries then he falls a bit. But it could be early? I do not know the breed, I hatched fertilised eggs and right now I have no space for more chickens. Giving them away hurts a bit attached picture

 

[BDutch]

He walks strange but he is very active being a rooster, he attacks the dog and birds and he tries mounting hens. From what I could see, he tries then he falls a bit. But it could be early? I do not know the breed, I hatched fertilised eggs and right now I have no space for more chickens. Giving them away hurts a bit attached picture

Doesn’t sound as a major handicap and you like his character and appearance.
Of course you can try to keep him and reunite him with his hens after he’s cured and strong again.

If (part of) the problem was the feed you gave , the hens might stop bullying him. They wont need his blood in the future for sure. Unfortunately chickens bad behaviour is not easy to stop. The special stinky blue spray will help too if you let him into the hens paradise again.

Looks a bit like Cochins. But Im no expert at all. If you like to know, you could start a new thread.