The Poultry Keeper

MikeEvans · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Here's a photo of Bertie the bantam cockerel. His rear end looks really sore and there are stumps where the feathers aren't coming through properly. We took him to the vet today, and she's not sure what it is. He seems lively enough in himself, he's eating well and still chasing the ladies, but we're worried.

Has anyone seen this before? any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

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Mike

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CP · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 1:33 am Post subject:

How long has it been like this?
The black 'spots' look like they may be new feathers emerging.
It may just be moulting but it does look quite red & sore. Has he been dusted for mites & lice recently?

MikeEvans · Joined: 06 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

It's been like this for several months. He had scaly leg (which is now improving), so we've been treating him every few weeks with Ivermectin for that (last dose was last week), which if I understand correctly should have taken care of any mites. We also periodically flush the whole ark and run with poultry shield to clear out any mites, the last time was a couple of weeks ago.

The black lumps do look like the start of feathers, but the vet reckons they don't look like they're coming through properly.

CP · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 11:56 am Post subject:

A squirt of purple antiseptic spray will help conceal the redness in case any of the others are pecking his poor bum!
I don't know why the feathers aren't growing properly though & if you're treating him he shouldn't have any nasties crawling around creating problems.

Have you tried gently pulling the ends of the new feathers? Are they loose or solid? Not that I know what I'm talking about here - just that I would probably try this myself.

Maybe nothing will happen with them now until he moults them out? Maybe there was some 'damage' (pecking?)done to the shafts as they were emerging & they've stopped growing?????

I'm just guessing now........... Rolling Eyes

Maybe someone else has had similar problems with their birds & will offer some advice. Wink

jubilee · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 125 Location: nottinghamshire

Looks normal to me, although maybe a little red, perhaps from a bit of unwanted attention? Black feathers can grow back like this, they have a very thick penshaft to push trough from the old feather that has dropped out so it gives the appearence of not growing properly, i wouldn't spray purple spray too near the vent, but i would rub in a good amount of E45 cream to help soothe it a little, i have known hens to peck the feathers and fluff away from around the ckls vent during the tredding season, so they are given the best chances of getting their eggs fertilized.If it continues to be sore, perhaps isolate him for a while and keep applying the E45 cream. xx

Pekinout · Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1219 Location: Cornwall

Looks like feather mite to me, I'd spray his bum with purple spray and dust him and the other chooks with feather mite/louse powder and see how it goes. On no account pull the black feather quills that are coming thru, you'll just pull the new feather out.