Hi all, I am brand new here and fairly new chickens as well. We hatched two top hats (both roosters) last spring and adopted 3 hens at the same time. All have been doing well together and the hens just started laying! Lately the less dominant rooster has been laying around sleepily much of the time and today I noticed his left side is really pronounced - possibly inflamed, I'm not sure. I am not sure if this is an injury that will heal or something more significant that a more experienced backyard chicken person may know about. Any thoughts are welcome!!!
The left side of his neck and body. I will be able to look closer tomorrow, but he was too quick to let me pick him up (typical)
Pluck him off the roost after dark. You should be able to check him over stem to stern then. Look for open areas, green skin (bruising), tenderness, etc.
Okay, will do. Does this sound to you like any type of illness? I am just concerned because this is so new. My first thought was that he acquired an injury from a possible scuffle with the dominant rooster.
