Why are my rooster's legs pink/red?

[Penny Audra]

I was feeding my chickens today and realized that my rooster's legs looked kind of pink or red. The rest of my flock looks normal, so I don't think it is contagious. I have never seen it on him before, and I've had him since he was a baby. If his breed is important, he is a 4-month old Buff Orpington rooster. He is my only buff orpington, my other chickens are Easter Eggers and Black Australorp.

 

[Chickassan]

That's normal, it's hormonal it means he's virile.

 

[Penny Audra]

Thank you! Im glad to know he is okay.

 

[sourland]

What @Chickassan said. He's growing up and the hormones are raging in his teen age body.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I thought for sure Henry was seconds from death when I first saw those red marks on his legs, and since he has been near death from a coyote attack, it was really great timing when those dots decided to reappear and scare me all over again.

It seems the boy is ripe for some hen action, I've since learned. He can't do much about it in his hobbled state, but the leg barometers say the rooster hormones are raring to go.

So maybe he'll start making some baby Henrys when he recovers some more.