ROOSTER with broken feathers on back/saddle.

[ThunderMama]

My roo, Captain, has had this disheveled look on his back for as long as I can remember. I've had him for about 4-5 months, and he's about 1.5 years old. I see this along with the wing damage on a few of my laying girls, but I chalk that up to Captain favoring them. But why the heck would HE have it? The majority of my hens and my other younger roo are all smooth and lovely. I've checked carefully for pests, as we had an issue with poultry lice about a month back, but that's been taken care of. So what's the deal with his back?


That's Captain ^^
You can see here what most of my other girls look like, and my young roo. All smooth.

Snowy, one of my 5 month old girls

Rusty, my young roo.

 

[silkiechicken]

If he had this damage when you got him, he'll keep it till the next moult. He was likely a low rooster on the rankings at his hold home.

 

[ThunderMama]

Hey, I hadn't thought of that. That makes perfect sense. I just assumed that feathers were like hair, and would progressively drop and regrow. Poor shabby Captain. Getting shown up by my shiny red young roo.

 

[silkiechicken]

Come next spring, he'll probably be in the runnings with the young boy! Looks like he'd probably have some real nice long saddle feathers if they weren't so beat up!