Rooster with bald spot on breast bone

[Jemma Rider]

My only word of caution is stop hand feeding him or picking him up...You say you like him so don't allow that anymore..You might quickly regret treating him as a pet...

What do you mean by that?
I got my chickens as pets not livestock, so i don't understand why i wouldn't treat him as a pet. I don't smother him, i just tuck him under my arm and make sure he eats, since he hasn't matured yet the hens are all pretty tough on him. It's made him much friendlier he used to be really bitey until i started handling him. Like what sorts of problems can handling cause?

 

[chickens really]

What do you mean by that?
I got my chickens as pets not livestock, so i don't understand why i wouldn't treat him as a pet. I don't smother him, i just tuck him under my arm and make sure he eats, since he hasn't matured yet the hens are all pretty tough on him. It's made him much friendlier he used to be really bitey until i started handling him. Like what sorts of problems can handling cause?

Being you asked me personally I will tell you..Being nice to friendly young Cockerels usually turn into Roosters that attack you and have ZERO respect for your space..Many get Culled because they can injure people terribly..Small children are the most at risk or short people...They become aggressive and one attack leads to others more Aggressive..

 

[Eggcessive]

If he is a little afraid of the other cockerel, he may be spending more time on the roost, which does tend to cause a bare spot on the keel bone. I had 3 breeding roosting together for a winter in a large pen, and the one who was lowest in pecking order developed a breast blister from remaining on his roost. They let him eat very little, so I had to pen them all separately after that. Bare spots may turn into breast blisters, and later may become abscessed.

 

[Jemma Rider]

If he is a little afraid of the other cockerel, he may be spending more time on the roost, which does tend to cause a bare spot on the keel bone. I had 3 breeding roosting together for a winter in a large pen, and the one who was lowest in pecking order developed a breast blister from remaining on his roost. They let him eat very little, so I had to pen them all separately after that. Bare spots may turn into breast blisters, and later may become abscessed.

The hens and the other cock don't let him onto the roosts until right before dark, and he's always the first one out, he doesn't go in during the day at all either. He's going to be a great roo he's already patrolling the run. The other cockeral is also his only "friend" in the coop, they are brothers from the same dad and they grew up together as their mom was killed right after she hatched them. When they spar it's like when brothers and sisters fight really they don't really go for each other, but the one with the bald spot isn't matured yet so it will probably get worse, but the other cock is going away tomorrow. I watch the chickens all day, it's sad, but they are literally my life i would have noticed if my favorite one was spending time in the coop.
So how do i prevent breast blisters? Is there any way to make his feathers grow back? is there an ointment or something to put on?

 

[Eggcessive]

He may have just had those feathers plucked out. When new ones grow in, they can be attractive to the others, and may be pulled out again. Since he is not spending a lot of his time on the roosts, then the others are probably plucking the feathers. I wouldn’t do anything yet. Just keep an eye on it.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I don't feel you're setting yourself up for problems by holding and hand feeding your rooster. As long as it's not excessive and you're not trying to force him to be a lap doggy rooster, you should be fine.

If problems arise, they can be addressed.

And let me tell you, I had good reason when I decided I needed to learn how to pick up and hold my rooster. He bites, not always but always for a reason, and by learning how to hold him and when not to touch him, I've gained confidence in having a rooster

Boy have I put that to good use during his convalescence from a coyote attack.

I will say, though, that Henry most likely received no direct benefits from being held. It runs contrary to how he was designed. He didn't soften his rooster behaviors or suddenly want to cuddle in my lap. If anything it caused him stress.

But we both eventually benefited when I was able to use what I learned so I could help him better during his recovery process. Emergencies aren't planned, so knowing how to grab your rooster when you need to is something to think about.

 

[Jemma Rider]

I don't feel you're setting yourself up for problems by holding and hand feeding your rooster. As long as it's not excessive and you're not trying to force him to be a lap doggy rooster, you should be fine.

If problems arise, they can be addressed.

And let me tell you, I had good reason when I decided I needed to learn how to pick up and hold my rooster. He bites, not always but always for a reason, and by learning how to hold him and when not to touch him, I've gained confidence in having a rooster

Boy have I put that to good use during his convalescence from a coyote attack.

I will say, though, that Henry most likely received no direct benefits from being held. It runs contrary to how he was designed. He didn't soften his rooster behaviors or suddenly want to cuddle in my lap. If anything it caused him stress.

But we both eventually benefited when I was able to use what I learned so I could help him better during his recovery process. Emergencies aren't planned, so knowing how to grab your rooster when you need to is something to think about.

I read Henry's whole story. Half of me wishes that i could have a rooster that protective but the other half wants him to be all selfish and scared when he sees a predator because i would rather lose half my hens before him, I'm not forcing him to be but he's like a little lap dog, he knows the way into my heart all he needs to do is stand on my feet to get his treats. But that cock used to bite me relentlessly. He's a much better boy now but gosh before he was a little monster with his sharp little beak. Now he knows that if he's good while i hold him he gets treats and if he doesn't i give him a handful of layers pellets. It seemed to work, but he's not fully matured yet so we'll see then.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I read Henry's whole story. Half of me wishes that i could have a rooster that protective but the other half wants him to be all selfish and scared when he sees a predator because i would rather lose half my hens before him, I'm not forcing him to be but he's like a little lap dog, he knows the way into my heart all he needs to do is stand on my feet to get his treats. But that cock used to bite me relentlessly. He's a much better boy now but gosh before he was a little monster with his sharp little beak. Now he knows that if he's good while i hold him he gets treats and if he doesn't i give him a handful of layers pellets. It seemed to work, but he's not fully matured yet so we'll see then.

I know what you mean. I was so excited when I saw that first black chest feather and got to watch a rooster emerge from a downy little chick. Henry is an adorable creature to behold in all his roosterly mannerisms.

And some people do have cuddly roosters!

Also, I've witnessed growing trust from Henry and familiarity with my hand and its intention when feeding him and holding a bowl of water up to his beak. We developed a rapport together, all custom designed around his needs, not mine.

As for your boy's bald spot, do you have a critter cam you can put in the coop? It'd be interesting to see how he's roosting.

 

[Jemma Rider]

I know what you mean. I was so excited when I saw that first black chest feather and got to watch a rooster emerge from a downy little chick. Henry is an adorable creature to behold in all his roosterly mannerisms.

And some people do have cuddly roosters!

Also, I've witnessed growing trust from Henry and familiarity with my hand and its intention when feeding him and holding a bowl of water up to his beak. We developed a rapport together, all custom designed around his needs, not mine.

As for your boy's bald spot, do you have a critter cam you can put in the coop? It'd be interesting to see how he's roosting.

I check on them all after dark, i don't have a camera but he's roosting the same as everyone else. Sitting on their feet for warmth and all huddled up. Rooster is the only one who doesn't huddle with the others since he's on the bottom he's all alone on the bottom roost with my hen Rosie. And even they hate each other. He is a really heavy bird, I'd guess twenty to twenty-five pounds. I'm thinking of putting my hens old crop bra on him, but fitting it really loosely over the bald spot and maybe that would help prevent blisters? I don't know how anything with roosting could be wrong he's in the same coop he hatched and grew up in.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I'd guess twenty to twenty-five pounds.

Are you kidding?! That may be your problem. I'd like to see you step on the scale with him and see how close your estimate is.

With an average large rooster weighing in around 9 pounds that seems excessive.

I personally don't feed layer as it doesn't have enough protein for my dual purpose breeds. 16% is the bare minimum for light bodies layers like leghorn and my non laying birds don't need the calcium in addition to it POSSIBLY causing kidney issues for them if fed long term. Feathers are made of 90% protein and the amino acids it contains. Many people feed their birds lettuce and corn or scratch further diminishing the nutrient because they often don't realize lettuce is basically water and doesn't really count as getting green in the diet. Sorry if I already shared this info and repeating myself.

Again... what breed? If a meaty then those kind of issues can be very common as they were never intended to grow up and hang out on roost. Though some people do keep them as long as they can. I don't know what the oldest lived is yet.