feather plucking, balding bird?

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silkymom

silkymom

Songster
10 Years
Nov 20, 2009
254
6
121
one of my red sexlink hens is really balding, these birds were given to me in the fall, they had been with a roo so i thought he was the problem, but when they molted, she must have picked out and chewed off feathers as they came in, she looks terrible. the other hens have some missing on the back from the roo, (im raising 16 more for him) i know 6 hens with this big roo isnt enough, anything i can do? no mitres on them?



 
Those are the exact same signs I see in my chickens when they are a roosters favorite. Getting more hens should help. You could also try buying or making saddles to put on them to allow them to grow back in their feathers.

The swollen, red areas on the beck and wings get caused by the rooster trying to keep his balance during breeding.

Hope she gets better!
smile.png
 
That looks like more than just rooster wear.
Could be feather mites.....unless you're seeing the birds picking.
Feather eating can often be a sign of low protein.

What all are you feeding?
 
My chickens get layer food, along with treats of cat food, bread, watermelon, and they have free range to forage for plants and bugs all day. I just have too many roosters right now (I'm planning on getting rid of the one causing all the problems. He's younger, and younger roosters tend to breed with the hens more than older ones).
 
GitaBooks said:
My chickens get layer food, along with treats of cat food, bread, watermelon, and they have free range to forage for plants and bugs all day. I just have too many roosters right now (I'm planning on getting rid of the one causing all the problems. He's younger, and younger roosters tend to breed with the hens more than older ones).
Click to expand...
I guess I should have made it clear that I was asking the OP.
 
im feeding layer crumble, oystershell,some veggie trimmings, these birds free range the yard and woods all day. i checked for mites and have not seen them picking?ill check the protien on the bag, thanks.
 
It really looks like rooster treading. Up the protein. I have like three hens that are the favorite with my Jersey Giant rooster that have bare backs. They do not look quite this bad, but I imagine this is possible. Try putting saddles on them. Mine never keep them on, but it is worth a try.
 
up the protien? buy a different feed, or add something, foods from the house?
 

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