Chicken is being picked on? And has a bruised neck help!

[Pebbles25]

I have a 1 year old Silver laced polish bantam hen. I think she hatched April last year. I suddenly noticed yesterday that she is missing a lot of feathers. She is probably molting but she has a bare patch on her neck that is a blueish colour. She has lost all of her tail feathers. I have a cream legbar cockerel that is almost 5 months and he does peck them quite a bit. I think a few of the older hens and my cream legbar cockerel are picking on her. She seems to be eating fine, she does like to jump in the treadle feed to eat, while the big birds keep it open. Before she started molting she had quite a bit of attitude, are they just picking on her as she’s losing feathers? She seems to be pooping fine. How can I help her recover quickly? She has no visible injuries except for the bruising on her neck.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Molting birds will feel under the weather, and chickens will pick on anyone that shows signs of weakness. Polish, in particular, tend to be targets with their puffy heads. Do you keep the feathers trimmed around her eyes to help her see?

How do you keep your birds? Are they free ranged or enclosed? Chickens that are penned needs lots of room to navigate around each other, as well as things to jump on, over, and around to evade the more aggressive birds. Multiple feed and water stations are helpful.

When you say the cockerel is pecking her, does this happen when he's mating? If so, a chicken saddle will help prevent further injury while she heals up underneath.

 

[Pebbles25]

I trimmed her feathers round her head today! I do it about 2x a year, usually I wait till after their molts. They are free range. He pecks the girls at the feeder so he can eat. But I did wonder if he bruised her neck while mating? But as it’s her neck I’m not sure if a chicken saddle would help! Thank you!

 

[thecatumbrella]

But I did wonder if he bruised her neck while mating? But as it’s her neck I’m not sure if a chicken saddle would help! Thank you!

I was looking more at the damage towards her tail. The stuff around the neck definitely seems like pecking order skirmishes. A lot of mine like to issue corrections on the comb, but seeing that hers is hidden under the floof, her neck gets grabbed instead. That would be my guess. You won't know for sure unless you sit out and watch them for a while.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Actually, before I forget, have you checked her over for mites? That could be another cause of feather loss. I’d look not only around the neck, but around the vent as well.

 

[Pebbles25]

I was looking more at the damage towards her tail. The stuff around the neck definitely seems like pecking order skirmishes. A lot of mine like to issue corrections on the comb, but seeing that hers is hidden under the floof, her neck gets grabbed instead. That would be my guess. You won't know for sure unless you sit out and watch them for a while.

Yes here neck gets pecked. It’s her long tail feathers that are missing, im guessing that’s her molt. She doesn’t seem to be too torn about on her back. Yes, I had one stubborn hen fighting with my boy today on the combs and wattles, I had to stop them as they were both bleeding. Then I noticed the hens face is slightly swollen so that’s the next thing to figure out, really hoping it’s not a respiratory problem.

 

[Pebbles25]

Actually, before I forget, have you checked her over for mites? That could be another cause of feather loss. I’d look not only around the neck, but around the vent as well.

I did have a look, she had what looked like dirt on her tail from a dust bath. We have mites in one of our coops that we just can’t completely eliminate.