Back feathers not growing in - what to do?

[jlwquilter]

I got this poor little hen several weeks ago along with several others, also in rough shape. The guy said it was a hard molt but in a later conversation said it may have been feather picking by one of the other hens (who I also rescued). The picture shows that her tail feathers are coming in but the back feathers not so much. The skin on the sides more under her wings is tan as well as some of her back. But you can also see the area that is red. She is 15 months old I have not seen her lay at all. Some of the other rescue hens were molting and are feathering in nicely now and some are laying, some are not. I’ve got the whole flock now on a higher protein feed (with crushed egg shells available at all times though I don’t see these girls eating it).

So my questions are how to tell if molting or feather picking, do you think the back feathers will eventually grow in or are the follicles too damaged, or should I be looking for some health issue this particular hen has?

Thanks!

 

[JadeFarms]

Get a hen saddle.

 

[jlwquilter]

She’s never been bred. Do you mean just to protect the area?

 

[JadeFarms]

She’s never been bred. Do you mean just to protect the area?

Yes so she doesn’t get beat up worse, or get sunburnt, or so on.

 

[jlwquilter]

Ok. I’ll have to look into getting one. Or making one. I’m sure there’s instructions online!