Self deprecating rooster

[mertzee]

I have a frizzle rooster that was top cock until just after the major arctic front that affected most of the country. Since then his feathers are broken, missing, just spines, etc. I can’t find ANY bugs of any kind on him. No mites, no lice, no nothing. His skin is extremely red and apparently irritated. I have brought him inside until it warms up some because he was outside and shivering due to all the bald spots. I spotted him tonight preening his feathers for the first time in a very long time. Could this be a very bad molt or self depreciation ?? He never dust bathed that I have seen. I have treated my coop with Elector PSP and plan to treat my flock as soon as it warms up enough they won’t freeze by being wet. Please look at attached pictures and let me know if you have any suggestions. (He is fed 22% show flock by Tucker Milling and Tucker Milling Conditioner with some BSFL as treats from time to time.). And NONE of my other birds have anything like this going on.

 

[nuthatched]

Poor fella, He could be being picked or have depluming mites, which are microscopic and sometimes difficult to treat.
What's his diet like?

 

[mertzee]

Poor fella, He could be being picked or have depluming mites, which are microscopic and sometimes difficult to treat.
What's his diet like?

He is fed Tucker Milling 22%. Show Flock plus Tucker Milling 16% Conditioner plus scrambled eggs and BSFL on occasion. What should use to treat Depluming mites and how do I do it?

 

[nuthatched]

I think, from the snapped off shafts and irritated follicles, that he's being picked or he has some sort of genetic anomaly.

 

[laboroflove]

Frizzles can be very fragile especially if they are frazzles and not frizzles. (Frizzle x frizzle = frazzle) Feathers break off easily and they get bald spots. They are more sensitive to cold and heat. They do require more maintenance than your avg chicken.

You could treat for mites with Ivermectin if you suspect mites. Repeat in 11 days.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think I would treat with Ivermectin to see if there's improvement with the skin.
Feathers that are broken and the nubs of intact feathers rubbed off will not be replaced until he goes through a molt, so you'll just have to see him ragged for a while.

Depluming/Feather mites live under the feather shaft so a Elector PSP, Permethrin (dust or spray) will not treat them. Ivermectin will.
Ivermectin is dosed by weight.

Ivermectin Pour On dose is 0.09ml per pound of weight applied to the base of the neck along the spine making contact with the skin. Repeat in 10-14 days.

Ivermectin 1% Injectable dose is 0.045ml per pound of weight given orally, by injection or can be applied topically (making contact with the skin along the spine). Repeat in 10-14 days.

How long has he been separated out and are the photos you posted recent?
What are you keeping him in?
I see some green on the wing tissue which would indicate bruising/injury. Is he picking at himself, has he been fighting or perhaps struggling around in his separation area?
Any fighting with another cockerel or rooster?

 

[mertzee]

I think I would treat with Ivermectin to see if there's improvement with the skin.
Feathers that are broken and the nubs of intact feathers rubbed off will not be replaced until he goes through a molt, so you'll just have to see him ragged for a while.

Depluming/Feather mites live under the feather shaft so a Elector PSP, Permethrin (dust or spray) will not treat them. Ivermectin will.
Ivermectin is dosed by weight.

Ivermectin Pour On dose is 0.09ml per pound of weight applied to the base of the neck along the spine making contact with the skin. Repeat in 10-14 days.

Ivermectin 1% Injectable dose is 0.045ml per pound of weight given orally, by injection or can be applied topically (making contact with the skin along the spine). Repeat in 10-14 days.

How long has he been separated out and are the photos you posted recent?
What are you keeping him in?
I see some green on the wing tissue which would indicate bruising/injury. Is he picking at himself, has he been fighting or perhaps struggling around in his separation area?
Any fighting with another cockerel or rooster?

I have had him separated for about 3 days. The pics are only 3 days old too. I believe he is picking himself so I can only imagine that it is Depluming/Feather mites. I have started the ivermectin this morning and hope and pray he responds quickly. Poor guy has got to be miserable. No fighting...He did have one small scuffle about a week and a half ago but nothing serious.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Keep us posted on how he's doing.
I hope the Ivermectin gives him some relief.

 

[mertzee]

Keep us posted on how he's doing.
I hope the Ivermectin gives him some relief.

10 days on the ivermectin and I see no improvement. The skin is still as red as ever. Going to give another round tomorrow. He has lost weight and I know he isn’t a frazzle but I don’t know what is causing the problem. He is a year old. Only one in flock that seems to have problem. I’m at a complete loss on what to do. No vet here will even do a skin scraping because “that’s treating chickens and they don’t treat chickens?!” I posted on a chicken vet page on FB and got no answers either???

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry he's not improving.

Think back - have you changed bedding, feed, housing, added new birds - think of anything that has changed in his environment.

Stress of the artic blast - stress can bring about reaction to certain disease like Marek's. There's a cutaneous form that affects the feather follicles, but hard to know if that's what is going on.

Losing weight is concerning. I'd make sure he's eating a complete feed like chick starter or an all flock feed that is 18-20%, limit treats and focus on getting some vitamins into him.
Poultry Cell would be a good choice, direct dose him at a rate of 1cc per 3 pounds of weight orally.

You can also try applying NuStock cream to some of the irritated areas to see if it helps. I'd just test in one area that you can easily monitor whether or not the cream makes any difference.