What's wrong with my rooster??

[Sandie55]

I have a young Rhode Island red rooster. He has a VERY red butt underneath his tail feathers. (around his vent) I have been treating my flock for lice/mites. The vet gave me atroban. I tried diatomaceous earth but was taking too long to work. I have cleaned the house thoroughly, started using cedar shavings, spread DE everywhere, including on the chickens. Everything is is definitely much better. But the rooster with the flaming red butt???? Is that normal??

 

[J-Sanders]

Got a picture? It may just be surface irritation or it may be a sign of a skin reaction (histamines) to the atroban. Is he agitated, picking at it, or others picking at it? Any swelling? Normal poop? Color, consistency, smell? What color is his comb? Is he listless or hyperactive?

Jim

 

[Sandie55]

Wish I could take a pic but no one here to hold him for me. He acts just fine. No pecking, maybe a little swollen. Poop fine. In fact he looked that way before I used atroban. He seems normally active. Interested in the girls of course. Comb is healthy red. But something isn't right. I'll try to get a picture. Thanks.

 

[J-Sanders]

Will he let you pick him up and touch it? If so, see if he is extra soft by pushing in.

Jim

 

[Sandie55]

I chased him down, cornered him & checked him. It doesn't seem swollen just bright RED. Reminds me of a babboon butt. Doesn't seem too soft to me. He definitely thinks he should be treated with more respect. Other than that he acts perfectly fine. All hens are doing well. In fact, I have more eggs that I can use. I have had him for a couple of months. He seems sort of small. I thought he would be bigger by now. Will try to get a pic. Thanks,

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Cedar is supposed to be toxic to chickens, dunno if maybe it has irratated it further?

 

[chickenzoo]

Yes..don't use cedar I'm an enclosed coop. I use it in my open air coops. .but the smell is too strong in an enclosed space.

 

[Sandie55]

I am sure I read somewhere (on line, of course) that cedar shavings worked well to keep away lice/mites. But fortunately, it is warm weather and my chicken house has a big window which I keep open and ventilation is good. OK, no more cedar. I'll go back to using hay in nest boxes. I also clean my chicken house every other week. I have even vacuumed it with shop vac, scrubbed with clorox water, then sprayed with atroban/water solution when lice showed up. How could any "bug" live through that????? Anyway, my poor rooster....he doesn't ever sit in the cedar shavings.

 

[maidenwolfx80]

I use pine shavings in the nest boxes and mix pine and straw in the coop. I also have read that about cedar and old timers used to use it for that very reason but I dont wanna risk it.