Rooster with rough, scaly skin

[oakhavenmama]

Hi, my rooster has hard, crusty skin. I thought it might be Favus but the skin is dry and tough. Almost like he has one big scab. Photos attached, not sure if they show the condition as accurately as in person.

I tried Miconazole spray, cream and another “cure all” spray (photo attached). Nothing has helped so far, been treating once a day for about a week.

Because it’s so widespread, it’s hard to apply those solutions to every affected area. So I wondered if there might be an anti fungal soak that could help without causing him to grow more fungus.

He’s had stubborn bumblefoot for several months. He also has had very loose stools for several months. Because of the bumblefoot, he’s gotten lots of soakings, which makes me think it might be fungus. His feathers are thick.

I would take him to the vet but I had a hen with dry, white skin on her neck and the vet advised supplementing with B vitamins. She died. Afterwards I found posts on here about Favus and think that might be what it was.

 

[oakhavenmama]

Thanks in advance for help or direction!

 

[azygous]

Two possibilities. One is that the skin issue is caused my an over-secretion of a fatty substance called sebum. The other is Marek's with a skin presentation. Since your hen died after presenting with this same skin symptom, I would definitely consider this.

The first can be treated with a dandruff shampoo such as Head and Shoulders. Make a solution of shampoo and water and spray it on the skin once a day. Or prepare a soak and simply immerse the rooster once a day.

Yes, he will be soaking wet. You can put a couple old towels into the dryer, get them toasty warm, and wrap him in them to hasten drying. Then use a blow dryer to fluff dry him. Or if it's a warm Texas day, let him air dry.

 

[oakhavenmama]

Two possibilities. One is that the skin issue is caused my an over-secretion of a fatty substance called sebum. The other is Marek's with a skin presentation. Since your hen died after presenting with this same skin symptom, I would definitely consider this.

The first can be treated with a dandruff shampoo such as Head and Shoulders. Make a solution of shampoo and water and spray it on the skin once a day. Or prepare a soak and simply immerse the rooster once a day.

Yes, he will be soaking wet. You can put a couple old towels into the dryer, get them toasty warm, and wrap him in them to hasten drying. Then use a blow dryer to fluff dry him. Or if it's a warm Texas day, let him air dry.

Ok I will try this, thank you! The weather here is definitely warming up? I don’t need to rinse the soap off?

 

[oakhavenmama]

Ok I will try this, thank you! The weather here is definitely warming up? I don’t need to rinse the soap off?

Also, how much head and shoulders should I add to a gallon of water? Thank you!

 

[oakhavenmama]

Also, how much head and shoulders should I add to a gallon of water? Thank you!

Two possibilities. One is that the skin issue is caused my an over-secretion of a fatty substance called sebum. The other is Marek's with a skin presentation. Since your hen died after presenting with this same skin symptom, I would definitely consider this.

The first can be treated with a dandruff shampoo such as Head and Shoulders. Make a solution of shampoo and water and spray it on the skin once a day. Or prepare a soak and simply immerse the rooster once a day.

Yes, he will be soaking wet. You can put a couple old towels into the dryer, get them toasty warm, and wrap him in them to hasten drying. Then use a blow dryer to fluff dry him. Or if it's a warm Texas day, let him air dry.

I lost a hen a couple of years ago who had something similar, but her skin was moist. I thought it might be Mareks but I took her to the vet and he didn’t seem to think so. Not sure he knows a lot about Mareks.

 

[azygous]

Most vets not only don't know a lot about Marek's, but they also don't know very much about chickens.

 

[oakhavenmama]

Most vets not only don't know a lot about Marek's, but they also don't know very much about chickens.

Amen to that. He tries though and will usually fit my chickens in that day or the next. I try educating him to what I have learned in here, not sure he’s listening.

How much H&S per gallon, and it’s ok to not rinse off? Thank you!

 

[azygous]

I'd just squirt a healthy amount into the gallon of water. Or you could mix a 50/50 solution in an old mustard squeeze bottle and apply it evenly on the skin, by-passing soaking the feathers. Yes, leave it on for a few days.