Strange genetic problem with my Dutch banty (with pics)

[ChickenCharmer]

My porcelain Dutch banty roo Galileo has raggedy feathers that don't cover his entire body. I was thinking genetic... maybe its something with the porcelain pattern? Does anybody know of a haggard looking porcelain? Both of his shoulders have bare spots that are red. Are they infected or does chicken skin turn red with prolonged exposure to the elements (like with the face, comb, and the wattles, and the the necks of turkens)?

 

[PunkinPeep]

bump

 

[dlhunicorn]

separate from the other birds (this will also help determine and recovery if pecking/cannabalism from the other birds is the source of this problem).
Give him a general supplement (AviaCarge 2000 is a complete supplement and can be purchased online from McMurry)

 

[Ryu]

I second separating him.

I would do a thorough check for mites. My feeling though is that someone is doing it to him or he is doing it to himself. If separating doesn't work I would puta bit in his mouth and see if that fixes it.

I hop your little guy is better soon.

 

[ChickenCharmer]

I don't know about pecking... I swear it's a genetic problem. Yes, he's at the bottom of the pecking order, but he's always been like this, and I've never seen any serious pecking. All of his feathers are in poor condition, and have been ever since he grew his first ones... Are you guys sure it's not something with the porcelain pattern??

 

[Ryu]

We've had porcelain colored birds before, and I didn't see anything like that.

Sometimes a lower ranking roo will pull out their own feathers and offer the bloody quills to the hens. Also self mutilation is seen animals as a way of dealing with stress.

I'd try isolating him as see what happens. It's possible he has a skin condition, but I'd put him alone for awhile first to eliminate that as a cause.