Bare backed hen doesn’t grow feathers

[Heidi Lee]

One of my Wyandottes has looked like this for months. I brought her inside to see if she would grow feathers if left alone and it took three weeks for some pin feathers to appear. I put her back out and of course she is being bullied, in spite of my efforts to reintegrate her. It’s cold here now, and she still has a bare stripe down her back. What to do?

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

Keep her in for a bit and then make her a hen saddle to protect her. How many roosters do you have, and how many hens do you have?

 

[Aunt Angus]

Ooh, that looks painful. Poor thing. I had a rescued hen who took a year to finally grow her feathers back, but her skin wasn't nearly as red as that. I'm assuming it's from being mated? I agree that a saddle should help.

 

[Heidi Lee]

Keep her in for a bit and then make her a hen saddle to protect her. How many roosters do you have, and how many hens do you have?

One rooster, nine hens. I will investigate hen saddles—don’t know much about them. I don’t want to press down the feathers she does have, since it is cold out….

 

[LavenderDaFlerf]

One rooster, nine hens. I will investigate hen saddles—don’t know much about them. I don’t want to press down the feathers she does have, since it is cold out….

Sounds like you have the right amount of hens. The rooster probably has a favorite, hen saddles are easy to make if you have a sewing machine, or you can buy them.

 

[STACEYH]

Give her higher protein. Protien help feather growth.

 

[Heidi Lee]

Give her higher protein. Protien help feather growth.

Ok, I will get her special protein and a good saddle. She does seem to be my rooster’s favorite, so this might be just what she needs. Many thanks for your help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 2938033One of my Wyandottes has looked like this for months. I brought her inside to see if she would grow feathers if left alone and it took three weeks for some pin feathers to appear. I put her back out and of course she is being bullied, in spite of my efforts to reintegrate her. It’s cold here now, and she still has a bare stripe down her back. What to do?

How long did you keep her housed away from the flock?

The feather follicles are still intact in the skin. She won't regrow those until she molts which may be next year (fall?) depending on her age.
A hen saddle can help protect the skin from the mating.
I would continue to work on re-integrating her - there can be a little drama when a bird goes back to the flock, if she's not being beaten up, is able to fill her crop/eat/drink, then just monitor the interactions. Hopefully things will settle down.

 

[Sara S]

Awwwthe poor baby definitely a hen saddle and happy holidays!

 

[Heidi Lee]

How long did you keep her housed away from the flock?

The feather follicles are still intact in the skin. She won't regrow those until she molts which may be next year (fall?) depending on her age.
A hen saddle can help protect the skin from the mating.
I would continue to work on re-integrating her - there can be a little drama when a bird goes back to the flock, if she's not being beaten up, is able to fill her crop/eat/drink, then just monitor the interactions. Hopefully things will settle down.

She was mostly separate for three weeks but I had one other hen in with her for a week and also brought her out to a fenced in area for a week so the others could see and interact with her. Then I supervised as they all hung out together. I learned a lot from all of you here at BC—very grateful for this resource.
Now I notice how the rooster harasses her, mating over and over again. She hides from him but is eating and drinking. I ordered a sturdy canvas saddle and will improvise something else until it arrives in January.