All my hens are bald!

[sadies0111]

I haven't seen any chickens pecking each other, so I don't think it was that...I was just assuming it is my rooster who really likes his hens a lot! He's a pretty big guy, an easter egger. My worst hen is my smallest, and she is a brown leghorn. I put a saddle, that I made quickly, on one of my hens. I got them when the were 1-2 months old, and they weren't handled much, so they prefer to not really be bothered by people. I went to their coop at night with a flashlight, and they still weren't very cooperative, so I only got one on successfully. Who knows, my hubby said he would take care of the rooster this weekend (but he's been saying that for weeks!)

 

[teach1rusl]

sadies - 1:4 is not a great ratio. Most suggest 10:1 (and even that deals more w/fertility) or greater. A saddle won't help their heads. That's where the roo grabs hold to hang on. Plus some birds are just more prone to feather wear than others. My BA is one of two favorites, and she has a small bald spot. The other favorite looks pristine.

pacey - areas above the tail are the first to go from rooster mating (overmating). That's where the roosters feet are gripping generally.

 

[sadies0111]

All their heads are still fully feathered, just their backs and the tops of their wings are featherless. I know my ratio isn't good...all were suppose to be hens, and I was so excited at the possibility of having blue or green eggs from an easter-egger, I was sad when he turned out to be a roo.

 

[teach1rusl]

Yeah...I've got a few chicks now that are all "supposed to be" pullets, but I'm watching two of them really closely (one of which is an EE).

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

I will say, I have seen my hens pulling each others' feathers out. Once the bald spot gets started by the roo the skin turns red and the other hens just can't seem to resist that red spot. It does seem to be acatch 22. The saddle seems to keep the feathers from coming in, too.

I saddle them in the cold but I had one under a saddle for better than six months and not one feather came back.

 

[southerndesert]

If there are not shed or lost feathers in your coop and run they are eating them and if that is the case they could also be helping themselves to each others feathers by plucking as well out of bordom or lack of protein.

If the missing feathers are indeed laying around and not being eaten you are likely correct in thinking this is roo damage mostly.