Stressed rooster acting crazy

[Amelia Egghart]

Nero is my 1.5 year old Easter egger rooster. I'm concerned there's something wrong.

1. I think he's molting but it's not going head to tail, he's lost tail and wing feathers and a bunch of body fluff. Have only seen a few new feathers growing but he doesn't have any bare patches (other than no tail).

2. He paces, crows more frequently and behaves agitated.

3. His eyes which are usually looking around between the girls, the ground and the sky are looking out and wide.

4. He's preening, but not well. He's dirty and has feathers out of place even though he spends time grooming himself.

5. It's been unseasonably hot (100F). Although now it's evening and has cooled, he's still panting after the girls have stopped.

Am I just seeing a rooster stressed from a long molt and hot weather? Or something more sinister? I miss my big, beautiful boy!

 

[Folly's place]

I'd look for parasites, at night, with a flashlight. Are you dealing with mites or lice? Neighborhood predators/ barking dogs? Any other stress? Mary

 

[Amelia Egghart]

I'd look for parasites, at night, with a flashlight.  Are you dealing with mites or lice?  Neighborhood predators/ barking dogs?  Any other stress?  Mary

I check every night for creepy crawlies and other than spiders which are quickly dispatched, I haven't seen anything.

We do have new hens which we got for him but he's been ignoring them. They roost separately for now and we've had them since April.

 

[Amelia Egghart]

Night. 81F. He's still panting. Girls are asleep and breathing normally. He's been through hotter and didn't behave this way. :-/

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Don't bother looking for mites and lice. Treat for them by both dusting, spraying, and dipping your birds in the appropriate pesticide., then worm them even though you don't see any of these pests.

Your hens and roosters will be slick and as shiny as a new penny.

 

[Amelia Egghart]

I was thinking of going at it with guns blazing. Roger that. Feed store is gunna love me. Hah. What dips are there for birds? That might be good in this hot weather anyway.

 

[Amelia Egghart]

Elector PSP seems like a good start, plus I can spray it around. He might be molting but I haven't been diligent enough about picking up the dropped feathers so it's probably a prime environment for poultry lice even though I haven't seen any.

The breeder I got a few birds from locally says he uses safeguard so I'll probably try that as well. Was going to use it a little later but maybe in a week when it cools a little.

First gotta try a dip and a good coop cleaning.

Thanks everyone. He's still breathing heavy and it's late at night :-/ poor guy.

 

[aart]

Quote: Spiders? Where are you looking?
If you just added new birds, they could have brought in either pests and/or disease.
What are you doing to keep the birds cool?
I wouldn't do any drastic pest treatment until you know what you are dealing with, could just add more stress or complicate the symptoms.

Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?
Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.
Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).
Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

 

[Folly's place]

Permethrin spray concentrate, love it! See the new thread about it, used instead of the dust. Mary

 

[Amelia Egghart]

Spiders? Where are you looking?
If you just added new birds, they could have brought in either pests and/or disease.
What are you doing to keep the birds cool?
I wouldn't do any drastic pest treatment until you know what you are dealing with, could just add more stress or complicate the symptoms.

Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?
Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.
Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).
Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Did all that, got nothing.

The new birds have been here since April as 3 day olds and were quarantined first (brooder in the house, pretty easy since they were babies). Nothing came from them except maybe stress.

I even pulled apart the wood planks in the coop right under where they roost and got nothing. Plus I clean in there frequently with the shop vac, sevin and oxine.

He could just be a super grumpy and stressed molter, plus with it being really unseasonably hot, he's just over it. LOL I hope! He IS spoiled rotten.