Did we end up with a second Rooster?

[Starganderfish]

We inherited a small flock of four elderly hens and one handsome rooster (Rusty) when we bought our house. We added 9 pullets (3 each of ISA Brown, Black Australorps and Rhode Island Whites) Things have gone well, they're growing and laying quite prolifically now. But about 2 weeks ago we noticed our Roosters tail fathers were gone, his rump looked quite raw and then he started losing his feathered crest. We're in Australia so it's mid-summer and regular moulting seems unlikely.

Today we noticed that one of the young Whites seems a bit different to the others, with a much more pronounced comb, walking with a puffed-out chest and elevated tail feathers, and seems more lean around the haunches and legs.
We're wondering if this is actually a juvenile Rooster? That might explain why our original Rooster (Rusty) is so dishevelled and distressed.
It's hard to tell just from pics but what do we think?


In contrast, these are the other Whites, of a similar age:

We have a very large run with two separate coops and two separate runs, so for the time being, I've seperated Rusty and the new kid (tentatively named Foghorn-Leghorn) and split the flock between their two runs (6 in each). Each group has a sheltered run, a comfy coop with roosts, laying boxes, and fresh water and feed. If necessary, we can run them as two separate flocks, but for now I want to try and see if Rusty improves and if Foghorn starts becoming more "roostery".
But I'm still new to all this and would appreciate some more experienced opinions.

 

[MountainWoman73]

Foghorn looks like a girl to me.

If you noticed Rusty's tail feathers missing all of a sudden, I would say he lost them in a predator attack. I had one get away from a bobcat and lose all his rump feathers in a similar manner. It's possible the ladies are pecking at them because he looks different, slowing their regrowth. If the feather loss started gradually, I would say one or more of your hens is picking them out when they roost.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I also think your suspect is a female

 

[WingItRanch]

I think you've got a feather plucking issue on your hand. The crested birds often get picked on.

 

[JedJackson]

The white one looks female to me as well. I agree Rusty's problem is the result of either a predator attack or feather picking. The latter can sometimes be alleviated by using feed with higher protein content.

 

[Starganderfish]

Thanks all. Def not a predator attack. Only thing we’d get around here would be foxes or feral cats and if one of those got into the run, we’d be missing chickens not feathers.
Hopefully it’s just stress and being literally hen-pecked.
Separating out some of the hens as I have done, into a seperate flock, is that likely to take some of the pressure off the Rooster and let hi recover? He went from four elderly hens to an extra 9 young layers. Is he just overwhelmed?
Appreciate any advice on other things we can try to give him some relief.

 

[JedJackson]

Adding more chickens is always stressful on a flock, because they have to make a new pecking order. But from what I gather none of the original hens have lost feathers like the rooster. That's why I think it is feather plucking rather than just stress. Roosters can allow this behavior while dominant hens will not. So it's a matter of finding the culprits and keeping them away from the rooster.

Older roosters are less virile and less fertile than younger ones. He probably is stressed out. If you see any hens either feather plucking or attacking him, they need to be moved out. If you are wanting to hatch chicks then the other flock may need a rooster of its own.

If you'd prefer all of the current flock to be together, add in a couple at a time and see how it goes. Best of luck.