Bare Back Hens

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av8rwife

av8rwife

In the Brooder
8 Years
Nov 5, 2011
28
0
34
I've seperated the roos from the hens thinking this would solve the problem. Alas the problem still exists. We've had an invasion of field mice in the coop at night. Have put out poison (hens can't get to the poison) for the mice. Had heard that the mice may be the culprit of my hens loosing their feathers. 4 out of the 8 hens have naked patches on their backs, the neck and chest feathers looked very ruffled. They are still laying eggs. Anyone have ideas on how to help my girls get their back feathers replaced? I feel so badly for them. I've read somewhere that I can put tree sealer on their backs AND if it is one of the other hens pecking each other then I will be able to tell which hen because she will have the black tar on her beak. I'm thinking I will try this step next, since the other things haven't worked on clearing up the problem. ARGH !!
 
I doubt the mice are the culprits. Have you inspected the hens very closely for mites or lice??? Looked down to skin level around the butt, under wings??? Rule that out first, because not a lot of feather pickers go for the chest area, which makes me wonder if they're doing it to themselves???
If you're thinking one of your hens is doing the damage, you can also coat them down with BlueKote and see who ends up with a blue beak???
How long have the roosters been kept separately? And it's gotten worse since then, or just not better???
 
The roos have been seperated from the hens for over a month now. However I do let one roo out to roam with the girls. The only time it was better was when I brought 2 of the hens home and kept them here for 2-3 weeks, their feathers filled back out and I took them back to the coop and integrated them back into the flock. Things were going well for quiet a while and I had all the roos in at the same time (at that time it was 2 Adult roos and 4 smaller ones). I've checked them for mites/lice and haven't seen any signs whatsoever on them. However when I'd open the door to the coop/run you could smell the mice urine really well. I'm just getting so frustrated with it all.
 
Mine have the same issue on their backs- figured it was molting- it is no where else tho. Subbing to see if there is a reason- other than molting. humm..... I also have been feeling bad for my girls.
 

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