Frayed feather question...

[cochin44]

I need help. I paired up our best cochin hen with a rooster for a few days, and now all of a sudden,
it looks like her tail feathers are all frayed out. I tried washing her, but it didn't help. We have
another show in about a month. Does anyone know how to remedy this?

 

[Bo Garrett]

I have raised cochins for a long time and this is probably due to the male depositing semen on the cushion feathers. Several of my hens have this same problem right now but once I put them in breeding pens I render them unshowable by trimming the vent feathers to facillitate better breeding and egg fertility.

Bo

 

[cochin44]

Thanks Bo. That's what I thought it was at first, but I may have discovered something else.
I think that the rooster has pulled out the good feathers on top and I am actually now seeing
the feathers underneath which have more of that stringy underfluff.
So my next question is, how long does it take for those outer feathers to grow back?

 

[Bo Garrett]

If you pluck out the damaged feathers it will take about 8 - 10 weeks or you will have to wait until the molt occurs in mid to late summer.

Bo