Roosters back feathers are gone and skin is red.

[Leighwilliams]

Hi. I had 8 roosters at one time and my 2 French copper Maran rooster kept getting attacked by the barred rock roosters so I gave them away but my sweet ones, rocky and blu have bald angry red skin and missing a lot of feathers on their back. Is there any way to help their poor backs? Plus one of my male ducks are not helping by going around and latching to my chickens. Thank you for your help.

 

[ValerieJ]

Have you checked them over closely for mites or lice?

 

[dawg53]

Put some Nu-Stock on their back. It will deter picking and heal the affected area. Shake the tube well and wear disposable gloves when applying it.

 

[ValerieJ]

Or get Blu-Kote spray.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Or use a large hen saddle to cover their backs, & protect them from your duck?

 

[chickens really]

Separate the Ducks from the chickens..A Drake has a penis and can injure a Chicken. You only need one Rooster.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi. I had 8 roosters at one time and my 2 French copper Maran rooster kept getting attacked by the barred rock roosters so I gave them away but my sweet ones, rocky and blu have bald angry red skin and missing a lot of feathers on their back. Is there any way to help their poor backs? Plus one of my male ducks are not helping by going around and latching to my chickens. Thank you for your help.

You had 6 roosters mating these 2 and it sounds like you have male ducks mating the chickens too.

Separate the ducks - put them in separate housing, sounds like they are not a good fit for your chicken flock. If you have chicken hens, the drakes can damage their vent or even kill them. (not to mention, cause feather damage/other injuries)

On your 2 roosters, I see a lot broken feathers with intact shafts (some new growth coming in too). Any broken feathers with an intact shaft will not be replaced until they molt.

The damage on the roosters looks no different than "mating damage" seen on hens. For inflamed skin, apply the Nu Stock as suggested. Some use Pine Tar, I've never used it. Once you get the duck situation sorted out, hopefully the skin will heal quickly. The roosters will eventually grow in new feathers, it's just going to take time.

Mating/mounting behavior is not always about sex when it comes to roosters (and likely ducks too). It is about dominance, I'm not surprised that with that many roosters that you had some with feather damage. The same thing can happen in an all hen flock too.

 

[Leighwilliams]

I have 23 hen and a total of 8 roosters I got rid of 6 because they were fighting with my 2 copper maran roosters. I had a lot of roosters from a straight run I ordered in May. And so the 6 I got rid of were very aggressive towards my kids roosters that’s why they are bald.

The duck Situation is a ok for except Donald my sons drake. I have 6 girl ducks and 1 drake and Donald is very protective over his girls if say a chicken is getting to close. he chases them off and pulls their feathers out. Other than that Donald keeps to him self in his pool. And leaves the chickens alone.

I will get some nu stock. Thank you.

 

[Leighwilliams]

Have you checked them over closely for mites or lice?

Yes I check the regularly and they have neither. I’m going to try and get some nu stock and see if that will help since there is no more fighting after the removal of the aggressive roosters.

 

[ValerieJ]

Yes I check the regularly and they have neither. I’m going to try and get some nu stock and see if that will help since there is no more fighting after the removal of the aggressive roosters.

Yes, somehow I missed that the other roosters did this. Anything that changes the color from red and sooths them a bit will get them through this until they get feathers again.