First time with chickens, what’s going on with his skin?

[Lesserevil]

I have ducks and geese for years but this is my first year with chickens and I’m concerned with this on him/her. 7 week old Cochin. It’s on his/her back where he still has some down. Only one with it. They have a nice big coop with all purpose sand as their bedding, lots of ventilation. Huge run both with lots of roosting perches etc. Is it just because the feathers are coming in or something else. He/she is my favorite. I think it might be a roo because it’s the last one to feather out

 

[BirdWrangler]

have you noticed any other birds picking on him?

 

[Lesserevil]

have you noticed any other birds picking on him?

no, I haven’t. They’re outside in their run most of the day so I don’t see it but I’ve never witnessed any of them picking on him

 

[BirdWrangler]

His skin looks a bit flaky also. Have you checked for lice or mites?

 

[nuthatched]

What's your birds diet?

 

[Lesserevil]

His skin looks a bit flaky also. Have you checked for lice or mites?

Yes I haven’t seen any

 

[Lesserevil]

What's your birds diet?

Purina chick starter non med.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have ducks and geese for years but this is my first year with chickens and I’m concerned with this on him/her. 7 week old Cochin. It’s on his/her back where he still has some down. Only one with it. They have a nice big coop with all purpose sand as their bedding, lots of ventilation. Huge run both with lots of roosting perches etc. Is it just because the feathers are coming in or something else. He/she is my favorite. I think it might be a roo because it’s the last one to feather out

no, I haven’t. They’re outside in their run most of the day so I don’t see it but I’ve never witnessed any of them picking on him

Please post a photo of the whole bird, hard to tell where that is located on the body, thanks!

From what I can see, the feather loss/damage is due to either picking/plucking and/or being mounted.

How are the chicks being kept, are they with the ducks and geese?

 

[Lesserevil]

Please post a photo of the whole bird, hard to tell where that is located on the body, thanks!

From what I can see, the feather loss/damage is due to either picking/plucking and/or being mounted.

How are the chicks being kept, are they with the ducks and geese?

They have a 50 foot x 20 run with a converted tackle room as big as a small bedroom for a coop. It’s on his back between his wings. The ducks and geese are in another barn across from it so not the same building or run and they never interact. I think you are right as I saw feathers today in the run when I got home. What can I do? They’re all the same age and he’s the only roo supposedly. Idk which one or if there’s multiple ones doing it. They don’t do it in front of me.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

They have a 50 foot x 20 run with a converted tackle room as big as a small bedroom for a coop. It’s on his back between his wings. The ducks and geese are in another barn across from it so not the same building or run and they never interact. I think you are right as I saw feathers today in the run when I got home. What can I do? They’re all the same age and he’s the only roo supposedly. Idk which one or if there’s multiple ones doing it. They don’t do it in front of me.

Could be picking while they are roosting, but loss on the back between the wings often is due to mounting.

How many chicks do you have? Could be you have another cockerel in the mix. Hard to know.

Observation during roosting and while they are occupied will often reveal what's going on.