Chicken's feathers getting pecked out ):

[CheerioTheBuffRooster]

Hi,
My Amerucana, Hattie, seems to be getting bullied by the other hens as she has a patch on her back where feathers were plucked out. It's wierd because I've spent hours sitting outside with the chickens and I have never seen any of the other chickens peck her back. She is smaller so she does get pecked on, but not on the back (that I've seen).
I have tried the pinless peepers pecking blinders but my rooster attacked the hens when he saw them with the blinders on, so I had to take them off.
I might try the spray that repels other chickens from pecking her.
I can try to get a picture of her back on here.
Does anyone know how her feathers are getting pecked off or how to prevent it??
Thanks

 

[CluckerFamily]

I'm assuming it is happening at night.
Do you have enough roost space for everyone? If I remember correctly, each chicken needs about 8 inches of roosting space.

 

[Shezadandy]

Can you provide a picture?

If you see no evidence of the chickens pecking it out - it's almost certainly from the rooster mounting her. Some birds just don't have resilient feathers.

Hen Saver hen saddles work really well to protect back feathers from pecking- or from rooster matings.

Most every hen in my flock (I have zero bantams) does well in their "medium" (regardless of what the description says!!!!) - if the saddle is too long, it will rub the tail ... and those feathers will be lost until the next molt. Smalls are for tiny things like Leghorns. Large size --- would be like for my giant Brahma hen- even my (bigger) buffs SWIM in the large size.

There are all sorts of "cute" kinds- I like Hen Savers because they last and all but one of my hens have accepted theirs with little fuss- and they provide good traction for the rooster's continued mating habits. The cutsie kinds that are regular fabric can cause him to slip, which can lead to injuries from his spurs..

Here's the website for Hen Saver - they're also on Amazon (note: the link defaults to "large" size- so be sure to order with care and choose the right size)

www.hensaver.com

Amazon.com : Hen Saver Single Strap Chicken Apron/Saddle, Large, Khaki, HSLSS-Khaki : Pet Supplies

 

[CheerioTheBuffRooster]

Thanks, I might try the Hen Savers
Here's a picture

 

[Shezadandy]

Thanks, I might try the Hen Savers
Here's a pictureView attachment 2476795View attachment 2476797

That looks like a mix of two things - the rooster tread (mating) type damage and perhaps opportunistic pecking for the blood by the other hens. Have a look at your rooster's nails and see if they might be in need of a trim.

If you can, I would clean the blood off and do what you can to remove it and the smell of the blood with something that won't be painful like Vetricyn or Betadine (iodine). Some might dress the area using "blue kote" which is the blue/purple fluid that can help disguise a wound. but I would get her an apron.

Spots like that don't get any smaller. Color wise, khaki, brown or black is what I'd go with - they do blend in. Whoever the Amazon vendor of the Hen Savers is out of stock on mediums, until February --- so I would go to the direct site with the single strap version. Lots more color choices. The "double strap" goes around the neck, which I would never, ever do.

Hen Saver chicken saddle/ apron – Crazy K Farm Pet and Poultry (myshopify.com)