feathers missing on lower back

[djjohnnyb]

I have a brahma/americauna mix that lost the feathers on her back just above her tail. It does not seem to be bothering her but her pink skin is exposed. there are also a few other birds in the flock that are starting to show this same symptom they are all about the same age (9-10 months). Nothing has changed, same food, coop, no new bird. The feathers came out a while ago and do not seem to be growing back. any help?

 

[Katy]

If you have a roo it's from him breeding them.

 

[djjohnnyb]

Should i seperate them to allow the feathers to grow back or leave nature to its own course

 

[chicknjane]

Yep, I have two hens who are missing feathers on their back and one missing feathers on her head. Its all from the same rough rooster. If there was any question of the sex of any of your hens, at least you now know for sure that at least one is a rooster. We've had some cold weather in PA but it doesn't seem to bother the girls with featherless backs. One is broody and doesn't leave the nest, but the other loves to go out in the snow. If you're really concerned you can get her an apron or saddle to protect her back.

Marcy

ETA: The feathers won't grow back until they go through a moult, which should be at or around 18 months of age.

 

[Katy]

How many hens and how many roosters do you have together?

 

[Lucindahart]

Don't laugh at me - but i bought from e-bay some hen saddles to protect the backs of my girls at this time of year, so that the roo has something to hol on to hexect her feathers.

It really helped and if you are keeping roos is well worth doing.

 

[djjohnnyb]

Quote:
i have 2 roos and 9 hens

 

[Katy]

For nine hens you really only need one roo.

 

[Kittymomma]

Lucindahart has it right, get some saddles for your hens and maybe think about culling one of the roos.

 

[chicknjane]

Oooh, I have 2 roos with 14 hens and I thought that wasn't enough. I have another 20 hens waiting to be introduced in the spring. You need more hens.

I've read that a rooster can effectively mate with 8-10 hens for optimum fertility, however, they can mate a whole lot more without getting tired, but the fertility rate will drop.