Roosters with Bright Red Skin and Feather Loss

[Cimmaron]

One my roosters recently starting losing his tail feathers, then I noticed his rear was beet red. The hens started pecking at the red area and drawing blood, so I isolated him a few weeks ago. I checked him pretty thoroughly for mites or lice and dusted him, and the main coop, with DE. Today I noticed my other rooster was missing feathers on his neck, so I caught him and same thing, bright red neck and bright red rump with missing feathers, but no sign of mites... Both roos have new feathers growing in. I have a large flock of hens and they are all fine and laying great. I caught several of them today and picked through their feathers but couldn't find a single bug and they all seemed completely healthy. I've been hatching eggs from this flock for several months with 90% fertility from the two roosters in question. I've dealt with mites and lice before, so do know what to look for...also checked the coop and birds with a flashlight after dark. I'm really puzzled...any ideas?

 

[Abriana]

Can you post pictures?

 

[Cimmaron]

I have a dumb phone and my digital camera just broke two days ago, sorry :/ If I can get the camera fixed I'll post pics!

 

[Abriana]

I have a dumb phone and my digital camera just broke two days ago, sorry :/ If I can get the camera fixed I'll post pics!

That would probably help identify the problem better!

 

[Abriana]

I’m not an expert in this stuff, but I’m sure someone else will be along soon to help, and will be able too even without pics

 

[Cimmaron]

So to continue the story. I couldn't figure out what was going on with this rooster so isolated him. He had been head honcho with the girls, and as soon as he was removed the rooster that stepped up to take his place developed the same problem. I ended up butchering both of them. None of the hens ever had a problem. Over winter I had a bunch of extra roosters that had hatched too late for fall butchering. A week and a half ago I butchered all but 3. They all looked completely healthy, no red rear ends or feather loss. Since I butchered them, just this week, the new head honcho of the 3 I kept has developed the same problem, bright red rear end and his tail feathers are falling out. I caught him after dark and checked him over very carefully with a flashlight. No signs of lice or mites. The skin is red and feathers falling out all around his tail and oil gland, everywhere above his vent. Am I going crazy? No one has any idea what this is? I sell chicks this time of year so need to have my flock healthy and good looking! They have been getting a high quality 18% breeder diet.

 

[dawg53]

It sounds like you have a feather picker in your flock.