- Apr 27, 2011
- 131
- 5
- 101
Hello friends!
Hoping for some advice or observations on this problem:
In May, I had a flock of 25 hens and one very large roo. A few (3-4 out of 19) of my hens have missing feathers on their backs.
The one in the pic is the worst. Her other feathers are normal. Vent looks fine. Eyes bright.
I never witnessed any harrassing. All hens are otherwise very healthy: eating drinking, good poos, laying eggs.
I assumed it was the roo, and since I didnt need fertilized eggs, I sent him to the crock pot.
That was 2 months ago. My hens still have bare backs. It has NOT gotten better, possibly worse. I examined a couple for mites.
They look very clean. No blood, no scabs, just no feathers.
These girls have free range in my 1/2 acre garden. I make them fresh sprouts. They are pampered.
Do hens pick on each other to this extent?
I did not see this in my last flock. A molt does not look like that does it? The molts Ive seen have been more sporatic, not concentrated on the back.
Thoughts?
Last edited: