Rooster with bald keel bone

[Jemma Rider]

Rooster is a mixed breed rooster (named Rooster). Just a heads up this is the second time I've posted this thread, i want some different opinions. I was told that feathers don't grow along the keel bone but all of the other chickens have feathers there. I've been keeping a close eye on him and it's been really red and swollen looking for a few days I've been worried about breast blisters. I read that removing his ability to roost would help. so i lock him up in a box on the floor every night now. His keel isn't red and swollen anymore but he gets so unhappy when i put him to sleep. I know there's probably not much i can do to get the feathers to grow back but i need a way to let him roost with the others again. He's my little boy,more dog then rooster. Here's a few pictures of the spot, I'm pretty sure it was caused because of his size he's very large and still growing.

 

[azygous]

Rooster's problem is the way he's roosting. The position he's assuming is irritating his keel bone, as you already suspected. It could be because of his weight or because he began to roost too young or because the perch was or is too small in diameter to allow him to assume proper roosting posture.

First thing to do is treat his irritated skin with Vetericyn. It's wonderful stuff, and it should be in every chicken first aid kit. Spray his bare skin every day.

Next, look at your perches. They should be plenty wide on top so chickens can completely cover their feet with their bodies. A thick three to four-inch tree branch sanded smooth is what I use. Other folks use 2 x 4s with the flat side up.

Next, wrap some soft fleece padding around the perch where he likes to sleep to cushion his keel bone. This will help his skin heal and perhaps the feathers will eventually grow back, although it might need to wait until his next molting.

 

[Jemma Rider]

Rooster's problem is the way he's roosting. The position he's assuming is irritating his keel bone, as you already suspected. It could be because of his weight or because he began to roost too young or because the perch was or is too small in diameter to allow him to assume proper roosting posture.

First thing to do is treat his irritated skin with Vetericyn. It's wonderful stuff, and it should be in every chicken first aid kit. Spray his bare skin every day.

Next, look at your perches. They should be plenty wide on top so chickens can completely cover their feet with their bodies. A thick three to four-inch tree branch sanded smooth is what I use. Other folks use 2 x 4s with the flat side up.

Next, wrap some soft fleece padding around the perch where he likes to sleep to cushion his keel bone. This will help his skin heal and perhaps the feathers will eventually grow back, although it might need to wait until his next molting.

Ok, thank you. The poor guy just hates sleeping on the ground. He has what i would describe as ptsd because when he was a "teenager" his broody mom was killed by a raccoon so he likes to spend all of his time on our outdoor roosts, jumping around like it's a jungle gym. He rarely comes on the ground. He's still growing too, almost matured (technically he's a cockerel but i call him Rooster anyway). I just hope All this stuff works, he's a great pet. My perches are 2×4s so they can cover their feet but they aren't all level so there's a lot of fighting among the girls every night, Roo does his best to avoid them. I was planning to replace them last week but haven't found the time. Thank you again.