Feather loss on back, too much attention from Hank?

[Carolina Chicken Man]

I have 9 BO hens, and one rooster, Hank. Some of the girls (5) started losing some feathers on their backs. I thought they were just starting to molt. One got a spot that was completely bare, with a small bleeding sore.

I did some research that indicates they normally start losing feathers on their head when they molt.

I started to think that maybe these girls are getting too much attention from Hank?

Is it common for a rooster to not equally distribute his affection.

Should I seperate him from the girls for a while? I'm sure it will break his heart.

The last picture you can see the hen that is down to bare skin with the sore.

 

[the1much]

she's his favorite,, and along with the back,, the back of her head will start looking "thin" too,, sometimes you need to watch it,, if she's too much of a favorite, she can really get hurt,, she'll need a "chicken saddle" or to be separated for a while.
and if used for breeding,, him having 1 REALLY favorite will cut your fertility rate WAY down.

 

[Chef]

Yup. I suggest a chicken saddle. They work GREAT! You can find good ones on this site. Search saddles they come in handy. Beautiful birds too!

Chef

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

Thanks for the answer, and Chef, thanks for the compliment.

I went to the NC State Fair this year, and mine look much better than the BO's that won the prizes, especially Hank. He's a pretty boy!!

I had seen pictures before of some hens wearing the saddles, and I guess I knew what the problem was.

 

[wings]

The saddles do work, I've heard. In Storrey's Guide to Raising Chickens, they have ways to make hen saddles out of old jeans or something like that. (I highly recommend the book, by the way.)

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

I have seperated them for the time being.

I have a neighbor who used to have chickens but does not have any now. I shut Hank up in his coop.

I noticed the one who had the sore on her back, the other hens were starting to peck it, so I cleaned it up with some peroxide and put some neosporin on it, and bandaged with duct tape. She's doing fine.

Thanks for the info, and there is someone on this website selling cute saddles, her name is Modeen I think.

 

[MissDollie]

I too found 3 of my RIR with feathers gone from their backs and tails. Didn't think about it being too much attention. I have a beautiful male RIR. Really thought that when it got closer to spring I would try letting them have some eggs.