Chickens loseing feathers on back and shoulders

[ranchhand]

5 roosters and 27 hens or 5 roosters and 22 hens? Either way, it's too many roos. For a flock of that size you'll be better off with only 2 roos. I have had great luck rehoming roos on the local Craig's List and signs with pics at the feed stores.

Hold off on the feather mite treatment until you have positive proof. But start treating the scaly leg mites ASAP.

Short term help would be to get or make some chicken saddles. Or separate 3 roosters in another run.

Good luck, you've got your hands full right now!

 

[ludicrous]

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So do I, hatching your own eggs comes at a price

 

[ludicrous]

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5 roosters and 22 hens, those poor chickens

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

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So do I, hatching your own eggs comes at a price

It does, but if you are prepared the roos are very, very tasty.

 

[ranchhand]

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5 roosters and 22 hens, those poor chickens

Oh my, you must be a rooster magnet like me.

Start trying to find new homes for some, but in the meantime separate the bachelors. They may fight, but the farther away from the hens the less they'll fight. I had a guy get 5 roos the other day, but I had to bribe him with 5 hens. He already has a bunch of hens, so they'll be happy boys!

 

[ludicrous]

We just phoned a zoo down the road and their happy to take our extra roosters

 

[ludicrous]

well I went to check up on "patient zero" to examine her a bit closer and made a discovery, the feather loss is definitely not from overmateing. She has bare spots on her neck just below her waddles and around her backside. Unless these roosters are getting very creative I'd say I have a different problem on my hands.

 

[sourland]

There may be something more going on, but those hens are very evidently overmated. You've received some very good common sense recommendations about reducing the number of roosters.