Rooster-Rhode Island Red

[K9touch]

I have a rooster that has lost feather around the neck. Initially looked like a fight with another rooster or got his head stuck someplace it shouldn't be....new feather growth so no problem.....tonight there is new damage/loss to the front of the neck. There is another rooster. Any ideas on what is going on?

 

[JLS]

It sounds like it could be fighting. I would hang out in the coop/yard and monitor the behaviors. If you have an aggresser than you'll need to seperate it/re-home it. Or if the aggresser is an unwanted/un-needed roo, you could send it to freezer camp. I hope you figure out the problem.

If your roo is bleeding then you'll need to seperate it and let it heal so the flock wont peck it to death.

 

[sourland]

Could be other chickens picking and eating feathers and pin feathers. Try adding some dry cat food to their diet to increase protein intake.

 

[K9touch]

I've got cat so will add the cat chow. We monitor the yard fairly closely and have not had a problem with the two roosters and 21 hens .... but something is certainly up in the coop. Thanks for the input.

 

[bburn]

I had RIR roos. They are all gone on to freezer camp or rehomed. But then I had 15 roosters and something had to happen.

I pulled five RIR roos out of the pen and put them into a tractor at 21 weeks because they were agressive and I knew they would be the first to go......two days later hardly any had feathers left on their necks and four of them ganged up on one and I thought it was dead.....did not move for five full minutes. So...yeah, they are fighting.

STILL have three roos...one is still iffy, a cochin. But top roo is starting to get cocky. Tomorrow I start with the picking him up and carrying him around. I want this nipped in the bud.

The fighting really gets to me. I want a calm flock....

 

[K9touch]

To: bburn
I'm thinking maybe the roos (2) are fighting in the AM before they are let out of coop to free range. Thanks for the assist will keep a close eye out of what is going on.

 

[bburn]

You are probably right. It is scary when they fight. You raise them and somewhere in our minds they should be nice to each other. It was a wild ride with mine and it is not over yet. We pulled the cochin out yesterday and checked his legs for spurs. His nubs are pretty big. Still waiting on a crow or an egg. In the meantime am looking for a couple of cochin hens to put with him. Oh, and build another coop and run while my husband is out of town!!

I just hate to see them with no feathers on their neck....you know it has to hurt!