Tail-less Rooster

[EasyKeeperRanch]

Hi,
My black copper Maran rooster had something last summer which ate away at his feathers, he looked horrible. i tried dusting him with diatomaceous earth and adding apple cider vinegar to the water and even brushing his feet with coconut oil (which he seemed to like). He should have feathered legs but those feathers are all gone too. By the first rains of the fall his feathers were coming back in, but his tail never really grew back. I thought it might be the girls pecking at him so I got a flock block around the same time as the rains, so I'm not sure which it was.
Now that it has started to get warm and dry (I'm in CA), I see some white patches on his comb (sometimes bloodied poor guy) he shakes his head a lot, and now his feathers are all eaten again. He doesn't seem lethargic at all.
The girls all got this too last summer to varying degrees and I'd really like to get a hold of it.
Thanks for any help!

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Hi,
My black copper Maran rooster had something last summer which ate away at his feathers, he looked horrible. i tried dusting him with diatomaceous earth and adding apple cider vinegar to the water and even brushing his feet with coconut oil (which he seemed to like). He should have feathered legs but those feathers are all gone too. By the first rains of the fall his feathers were coming back in, but his tail never really grew back. I thought it might be the girls pecking at him so I got a flock block around the same time as the rains, so I'm not sure which it was.
Now that it has started to get warm and dry (I'm in CA), I see some white patches on his comb (sometimes bloodied poor guy) he shakes his head a lot, and now his feathers are all eaten again. He doesn't seem lethargic at all.
The girls all got this too last summer to varying degrees and I'd really like to get a hold of it.
Thanks for any help!

Does he still have chick fluff? He looks really fluffy

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

I would give him extra protein and it should help

 

[EasyKeeperRanch]

He is about 4 years old. That's not chick feathers , all the distal parts of the feathers are gone and the fluff is the under feathers. He looked normal about 3 weeks ago.

 

[EasyKeeperRanch]

I would give him extra protein and it should help

Thanks Lenny,
I will try more protein but none of the other birds are having problems. It seems like something seasonal

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Thanks Lenny,
I will try more protein but none of the other birds are having problems. It seems like something seasonal

I will do more research. Does he share a coop will the rest of your chickems? Could you have rats or mice eating his feathers its definitely interesting. Do you have another roo that could be picking on him

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Have you checked for mites or lice? Also what are you feeding them?

 

[Tookie]

I think he has scaly leg mites.

 

[Smileybans]

You want permethrin for mites. DE won’t do anything if he actually has any kind of lice of mite. You can get a dust or horse spray at TSC or a farm store. Most carry them. There’s a ton of information on permethrin on here.

 

[EasyKeeperRanch]

Thanks everyone I really appreciate the help. I've tried looking for mites by going in at night and wiping things down with a paper towel but nothing came up except dust. I'll try it again.
He is the only rooster, and I do see some of the girls pecking at his bare butt and featherless feet and legs which is why I got the flock block thinking it would give them something else to pecking at. His legs do look horrible and are sometimes bloodied. I think you cam see one of his legs in the photos.
I've really wantd to stay away from the peremethrin, but if thsts what I have to do, so be it.
I'm due to the feed shop soon. I'll post again as things develop.
Thanks again!