Bald spot on back

[rooster0209]

My hens are getting a bald spot on their backs right above the base of the tail. First the feathers that were showing were fluffy/ruffled small ones. Now a bald spot in there about the size of a nickle.

Is this molting?

 

[Momma_Cluck]

DO you have Roo's? Many Roosters inadvertently rug/yank off those feathers while mating... and on the back of the head...

otherwise, could be start of molt-- or look for mites!!

 

[rooster0209]

There isnt anything on the back of the head where I usually see the roosters grab

I havnt noticed any mites

Its just on the hens. Starts out as ruffled small white feathers and today I noticed that Bossy was bald there

 

[journey11]

Mine have been "plucking" each other. Started out kinda similar in that same spot and got bigger. Maybe try an anti-pick grease and see if that helps it. Keep a close eye on it anyway. Mine got very bald and now I have them duct-taped to prevent the new feathers from being pulled out too.

 

[rooster0209]

Just went to close up the coop and inspect the girls further. They roost head/end. Bossy kindof preened the bald area on Blondie. I checked and there are no mites! The bald area on Bossy is bigger than I first thought. When I lifted up the longer feathers, she is bald across her back. Some of the girls are not as bad. Their backs do look ruffled with small white feathers sticking up.

There is none of this on the roosters.

Where do I get or what do I use as "anti pluck" grease.

 

[GaDawg]

mine look like that also, I'm pretty sure it's the rooster. I plan on giving him away soon.

 

[minna]

It's more than likely from normal mating. Not from pecking and picking. If it were pecking that usual spot is the head or tail. If those feathers are intact, it's probably just from mating. After being rubbed in the same spot over and over, the feathers come out. You can buy a chicken saddle, this will eliminate the problem. But it's normal and happens a lot.

 

[ThornyRidge]

I would definately agree with above and say rooster.. some of my girls looked "fluffed" and some have totally bare spots on back from mating.. they do make "saddles' or I h ave read somewhere you can make your own to protect the hen.. most of mine also have the spots on head where he is grabbing on to hold on.. I have one guy that actually just sits on the hens and then when they fight to get away that is when some feathers pull loose.

 

[lilbreeches]

some of my hens are bare but they are the roo's favorite ladies.

 

[journey11]

Quote:
One of my girls has been pulling and breaking off feathers from her 2 sisters for a couple weeks now, only from the saddle area and some off the top ridge of the wings while they are on the roost. It wouldn't be from mating, because all the feathers are strewn up and down the roost pit below, no where else. She has been breaking off some of the large feathers too.

Rooster0209 -- do you have any pics of the spot?

Assuming it were a picking problem, you will find anti-pick lotions and salves at the feed store or in hatchery/supply catalogs. There's a couple different things you can get, some are not for laying hens/meat birds though, so check the label.