Back Feathers, have flown the coop! *groan at the pun*

[RainbowHen]

Phew!
Okay, I'll try to patiently wait for the *poof* thanks for the replies!

Of course! Best of luck!

 

[RainbowHen]

If she doesn't feather-in in time for cold weather, I would look into a heat source for your coop until she does.

 

[9_OddHens]

Oh poor girl! That is an adoable flock by the way! Did you sew the saddle? Because if you sew them maybe you can sew a saddle for the winter. Sort of like a jackey I guess. It looks like it could have been from bulling or even mites. But you already checked for mites so it couldn't be that.
I hope you figure out what it was from. And good luck!

Thanks! They're a bunch of total characters

 

[aart]

The saddles may impede new feather growth.
Wonders if you also have picking problems due to crowding.

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with Aart - pull the saddles, they should begin to molt at this age soon - which seems so weird as to timing and nature, but truthfully they will be fine as long as they are dry and out of the wind. Even in pretty cold temperatures.

Generally feathers will not grow back until they do molt. They don't replace feathers constantly like mammals do hair. So bald places stay bald until they molt and grow new feathers everywhere. Bald chickens bother people more than they bother chickens.

My vote - pull the saddles, and let nature take her course.

Mrs K

 

[9_OddHens]

@aart & @Mrs. K
Thanks for the replies!
My other bald back hen (Red Mama) grew her feathers back pretty quickly tho, while wearing her saddle... I did take the saddle off of the current bald girl (Tilda Sweethen) but someone popped out the few pins she did have growing in

I'll give her another week with it on and check daily for new growth .. If no change I'll take it off. If she's still bald come the colder Temps, I guess I'll be sewing her a lovely lined winter parka

 

[9_OddHens]

The saddles may impede new feather growth.
Wonders if you also have picking problems due to crowding.

There might have been a crowding issue before (though I'd be surprised) , but we expanded the pen in the early spring AND they spend their days out wandering around a decent amount of our 10 achers
I'll watch her a bit more
Thank you!