Bareback Hens....How do I fix it???

[TK Poultry]

I just bought some RIR bantams and they are in pretty rough shape. I bought them that way. Most if not all of my birds stay in pretty good condition all of the time. I NEVER let them get to this point. I dont know if its the rooster of if its stress I really dont know. I've had them for four days.... and I want to start fixing this as soon as possible. I can see pin feahters coming in but I'm assumning they just get pulled out. I've heard feeding them cat food speeds up this process of regrowing feathers....but I dont know you tell me.

Here is a picture of one of the worse hens

 

[fordmommy]

The protien can speed up the process, but another thing you can do is get a saddle for her. This will protect her back from other's picking, rooster's mating and sun burn. Here's a link. You could also make them yourself. Pretty easy.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=189098

 

[tcp97b]

I had several do the same thing. I don't have a rooster, so all I can figure out is stress from heat or the onset of their laying. They are all wearing saddles now and have good feather regrowth. Before the saddles the others would just pick the pin feathers out.

 

[TK Poultry]

do you guys think i should take the rooster out....how long would it take to get there feathers back

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
I purchased two hens back at the middle of March. They were barebacked pretty good, about dollar bill sized on their lower back. One of the girls went broody, so she went into her own pen to hatch out eggs. It is now June and her feathers have just come back in. I hope this helps!! Also, she has been eating 18% chick starter for the past six weeks, just to give you an idea.

 

[mom wewantchicks!]

somewhere there is a no sew chicken saddle pattern, it is really easy. we brought home 2 frizzles with bare backs,with some good food the saddles and fresh air they had feathers in no time!

 

[BantyRooster]

The saddles work well, just make sure you loosen the bridle a bit and cinch up the stirups a little high so they dont drag on the ground.

The bridle a bit...get it??

Bantyrooster

 

[cletus the rooster]

are the hens able to preen their feathers back in with the saddle on?

 

[TK Poultry]

I really want to find a solution with OUT using saddles