Tumor or feather cyst on rooster’s back?

[NinoG123]

I'd just monitor him then. See that he's eating/drinking o.k., crop is emptying and check for lice/mites frequently.

He eats like normal but he’s very light. He still seems sick. He somehow lost his tail feathers. I think it could be the mites. I don’t know how he lost those tail feathers though.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 3362508
He eats like normal but he’s very light. He still seems sick. He somehow lost his tail feathers. I think it could be the mites. I don’t know how he lost those tail feathers though.

Can you weigh him so you have a baseline weight, then weigh him at least every 4 days or so to see if he's gaining, losing or staying the same.

What do you feed?

The tail feathers missing - is he molting? Look to see if there's pin feathers coming in. A rooster will often lose all the tail feathers during molt.

Check him for lice/mites and see that his crop is emptying overnight.

You mention he still seems "sick" - can you elaborate on that?

 

[NinoG123]

Can you weigh him so you have a baseline weight, then weigh him at least every 4 days or so to see if he's gaining, losing or staying the same.

What do you feed?

The tail feathers missing - is he molting? Look to see if there's pin feathers coming in. A rooster will often lose all the tail feathers during molt.

Check him for lice/mites and see that his crop is emptying overnight.

You mention he still seems "sick" - can you elaborate on that?

I feed scratch grains from a local feed store. That could be the problem since it has little to no nutritional value. All my other chickens eat it and they’re fine. I felt some pointy feathers so maybe he is molting but it’s odd for him to lose them so quickly. His crop is fine now. He has mites. Maybe the mites are getting him. He seems sick because he’s not as active as he used to be. Now he stays in the coop a little longer and when he’s outside, the majority of the time he’s under the coop resting.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I feed scratch grains from a local feed store. That could be the problem since it has little to no nutritional value. All my other chickens eat it and they’re fine. I felt some pointy feathers so maybe he is molting but it’s odd for him to lose them so quickly. His crop is fine now. He has mites. Maybe the mites are getting him.

A heavy infestation of mites will kill a bird, not suddenly, but slowly.

You can find Permethrin based poultry dust and spray at feed stores. Get some and treat him asap.
Put the dust in a sock, then use it like a powder puff to dust him all over making sure to get the dust through the feathers and down to the skin. Get around his vent, his tail, under the wings, etc. You want those critters gone! Re-dust him in 5 day intervals.

Clean out your coop bedding and nesting boxes. Spray all that down with spray. Remember to treat the roosts too. Repeat treatment in 5 days. You need to treat all the rest of your flock too.

It's best to provide a nutritionally balanced poultry feed. Scratch is usually quite low in protein and not a balanced as crumbles or pellets. Aim for a minimum of 16% protein, but I've found my birds usually do better with 18-20%. If you have a mixed flock of different ages and genders, then an all flock type feed works very well.

I'd continue to monitor his crop. Do provide grit (crushed granite) free choice.
The mites and low protein are dragging him down really bad. Get some poultry vitamins into if you have them. Work on hydration then see that he's eating. Some egg, meat or fish can be given to help give him a boost.

The feathers may all have come out because of the mites, hard to know. But if you want him to be healthy and feather in nicely, then you'll need to make some adjustments to nutrition and get rid of the bugs.

 

[NinoG123]

A heavy infestation of mites will kill a bird, not suddenly, but slowly.

You can find Permethrin based poultry dust and spray at feed stores. Get some and treat him asap.
Put the dust in a sock, then use it like a powder puff to dust him all over making sure to get the dust through the feathers and down to the skin. Get around his vent, his tail, under the wings, etc. You want those critters gone! Re-dust him in 5 day intervals.

Clean out your coop bedding and nesting boxes. Spray all that down with spray. Remember to treat the roosts too. Repeat treatment in 5 days. You need to treat all the rest of your flock too.

It's best to provide a nutritionally balanced poultry feed. Scratch is usually quite low in protein and not a balanced as crumbles or pellets. Aim for a minimum of 16% protein, but I've found my birds usually do better with 18-20%. If you have a mixed flock of different ages and genders, then an all flock type feed works very well.

I'd continue to monitor his crop. Do provide grit (crushed granite) free choice.
The mites and low protein are dragging him down really bad. Get some poultry vitamins into if you have them. Work on hydration then see that he's eating. Some egg, meat or fish can be given to help give him a boost.

The feathers may all have come out because of the mites, hard to know. But if you want him to be healthy and feather in nicely, then you'll need to make some adjustments to nutrition and get rid of the bugs.

Just cleaned out the coop today. Hopefully those stores aren’t closed tomorrow. It’s the holiday season. I’ll get the powder asap. I tried a dewormer today on him. I put it on some wet chick feed and had him eat it. I’m sure that helps right?

 

[Eggcessive]

The permethrin 10 comes in a concentrate bottle, 8,16, or more ounces, and it can be mixed with water in a spray bottle to treat the coop, nests, and roosts once bedding is removed.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just cleaned out the coop today. Hopefully those stores aren’t closed tomorrow. It’s the holiday season. I’ll get the powder asap. I tried a dewormer today on him. I put it on some wet chick feed and had him eat it. I’m sure that helps right?

What dewormer did you give and the dose?

Deworming may help if worms are part of his problem.

 

[NinoG123]

What dewormer did you give and the dose?

Deworming may help if worms are part of his problem.

I mixed the chick feed with around 1/4ths of a teaspoon. Very small amount. There were 5 handfuls of chick feed

 

[NinoG123]

The permethrin 10 comes in a concentrate bottle, 8,16, or more ounces, and it can be mixed with water in a spray bottle to treat the coop, nests, and roosts once bedding is removed.

Ok. I’ll get it at the store.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 3362893I mixed the chick feed with around 1/4ths of a teaspoon. Very small amount. There were 5 handfuls of chick feed

Were you able to get some dust or spray to treat the mites?

If I had a bird that I wanted to deworm, I would use a Known Anthelmintic like Fenbendazole (Safeguard) or Albendazole (Valbazen) that work instead of a natural Remedy.
You can find Safeguard at most feed stores in the goat or horse section. Valbazen can be ordered online.

IF you are going to give him a Remedy like The Poultry Store product, then it would be prudent to give the correct amount and duration according to packaging/manufacturer's instructions.
Directions on your package says 1 Tablespoon per 4 birds. Giving an individual bird a "dose" is 3/4 Teaspoon, so your 1/4 Teaspoon is not correct.
This product is to be given for 14 days in a row, so you need to continue with what you started if you are going this route. You would need to keep this product on hand and continue with it long term, it's to be given weekly after you give 2 rounds of 14 days in a row. Complete instructions are posted below along with a link to their website.

Do you have a friend, parent, partner or someone that can help you with treating him?
He needs extra attention right now and sometimes having help can make things easier.


**Measuring Scoop included, 1 TBS. (1) times per day for (14) days per 4 Birds. For larger quanity of birds put into multiple feeders. Skip 2 Weeks and repeat 1 scoop (1) time per day for 14 days, to aid in shedding eggs. After 2 initial doseages, use (3) times a week once per day as a maintenance. https://www.thepoultrystore.com/product-page/natural-dewormer