Bald/Missing feathers...!? Behavior or ...? Fed UP!!

Hi,

I am really getting fed up! I have 15 nearly-four-month-old Ameraucana pullets who are in a very large coop with attached outdoor pen. They share this space with a bantam rooster (who refuses to go outside and free-range with the other boys). This rooster is pretty laid back for the most part. When the pullets are old enough, they will be able to free range with the rest.

Anyway, there is one pullet who has had a bald spot on her back at the base of her tail for some weeks now. I never see any signs of injury, mites, scabs...anything. I have been mystified. She is otherwise the picture of health. Well, now, she has bloody missing tail feathers--as if they have been broken off!! I am getting very upset. None of the others has shown signs of anything similar.

I have spent hours in there watching and observing, and have NEVER seen anything untoward! I also watch sometimes from the glass door, so I'm not inside with them. No one behaves badly toward her when I am around. WHAT GIVES? What can I do?? Should I isolate her and hope that when she returns they'll stop being mean? If it's the rooster doing this--why only her?? They are all the same age.

Other than this, she seems very healthy. She is bright, alert, greedy little eater. No one seems to peck her or bother her... I am desperate, though, to figure out what is going on, why, and what to do!

Thanks for any and all advice!

Lynn

 

It's interesting you should say that! I have been wondering if they're getting enough protein (I feed layer pellets and scratch, supplemented with greens and whatever "treats" I have on hand, anything from pumpkins to fruits, etc.). But I don't really give them extra meat-type stuff. The free-rangers get plenty of bugs, etc., but I just started wondering about the girls--being in the coop and the outdoor pen, especially this time of year, they're not likely getting much. I gave them some hamburger the other day, and occasionally I've tossed in some dog or cat food (dry) just for the heck of it, but nothing much!

Do you think the bloody tail feathers then is from the rooster? And she needs the protein to grow them back? Why are none of the others being damaged this way I wonder? I just can't fathom!

Thanks, though. Makes me think it isn't too isolated... I'll try the increased meat for regrowth... but I really want to stop the cause!!

Lynn

 

Thank you Speckled Hen... it is reassuring to know that this is not abnormal, nor possibly even cause for alarm. I can't stand it that they are getting bloodied though! Well, I should say, "she" not "they"... still not sure why she is the only one getting it.

Just so I'm clear... you definitely think this is the rooster's doing then? ... I guess he thinks she's the most attractive of the bunch and that's why none of the others are showing signs? (lol). ...So this is normal mating behavior, and bloody, missing/broken tail feathers is part of it?

And if it is the rooster, is she too young? Is this harmful to her? She's not quite 4 months old. I will boot him out of there if it is harmful! I've let him stay because he had a close encounter with a predator and got scared/mildly injured and the other larger roosters (he's the only bantam), started picking on him. Ever since, he has had no desire to go outside, going on a month now.

Meanwhile, I'll be sure to increase the protein. I'll try the fish and more hamburger! And I'll look for the higher protein feed, too. She's gonna need those feathers for the winter!

Thanks for the advice!

Lynn

 

Sort of like a "chastity belt?" lol! Good heavens. I'll have to look that up! Maybe just long enough to let her feathers grow in... but I certainly wouldn't want to have to get 15 of them!

Lynn

 

Very resourceful, Sundance! I may just try that, since those are materials I already have on hand.

Thanks for the photos, Speckled! They look quite fashionable in their wraps, strutting their stuff! I am guessing that the rooster can still mate the hen, but it helps keep their feathers from being damaged?

By the way, you have mentioned the molt a couple of times... does this mean that damage from the rooster is more likely to occur during the molt--meaning they are more likely to show damage from a rooster during the molt than when they are not molting?

Or is it that molting could be what is responsible for her bare spot/broken quills, INSTEAD of the rooster?

I'm sorry to be so tedious and dimwitted... I'm fairly new to the whole chicken thing. Our first batch turned out to be ALL roosters, and we are finally getting some hens, after finding homes for most of the roosters. LOL, my husband bemoans the fact that after spending $$ building a coop, equipment, supplies, medications etc... and now 9 months raising birds... and still not a SINGLE EGG! lol... insanity.

Lynn