Feathers Missing

[haddiemoo]

I did not know what section to put this in but here it goes. I have 3 hens and 1 rooster. They all seem healthy and I have gotten 3 eggs a day all through the winter. (It is still cold for this time of the year in the South). The 2 hens and rooster seem to have had a good deal of feathers plucked out by something. I am pretty sure it is the other hen because she has no bald spots. The spots where the feathers are missing look raw and red and awful. It almost hurts me too look at them. I have put some ointment on the rooster, who looks the worst, but it looks worse every day.

In a few days I am going to move the guilty party to another pen (I want to wait until it is warmer because the current pen is winterized)

My question is will the feathers grow back in these spots and will these spots heal even though now they are raw and injured looking, for the lack of a better phrase. I realize that feathers come and go each year but in the two years that I have owned chickens this is the worst that I have had.

 

[Crazy Chick]

How big is your coop?
Are you home all the time?
Are there any big dents in the chicken wire?

Sorry I'm asking so many questions I just want to get a better understanding.That happened to my three Golden Sebright Bantams and one day I was home and I saw a hawk attacking them.So it may have been from a hawk. The feathers will eventually grow back but they might not be as full as they used to be. If it was from a hawk then the one that wasn't injured was probably smart and stayed away from the sides of the pen.

 

[etammy]

You should remove the plucker now if you can. Chickens are attracted to blood and all are pecking at his skin I bet. He needs to heal up. They will go after the newly growing feathers as well. You can spray his blad spot with Blue Kote, it is like a purple/blue color and stops them from "seeing" the bald skin to peck at and it is antiseptic, so it will help his skin to heal. I have never had a rooster, but have read here you need 8-10 hens for each rooster. So, some hens feathers and back sides might be getting damaged from mating If he is to aggressive with them.

 

[Suzie]

The feathers will grow again...

The ratio of one Rooster to three female chickens is low.... maybe a good idea to add a few more females..

Are your chickens allowed to free range ? if not they may be bored and attacking one another... try to add a cabbage head for them to entertain them from attacking each other....

Do you have any Blue Kote.... this can be applied to bloody and raw areas to discourage pecking of the injured areas..

A good idea to isolate the offending hen from the flock.... the pecking order will change.

 

[haddiemoo]

Thanks for the help. My coop is 5 x 10 and they have a box that is 4 x 5. Also, the coop has a roof over it with wire covering all entry ways. I have not let them free range yet because of dogs. Last year I had four hens and I let them out one day and dogs killed 3 out of 4. This year the a couple of the dogs are gone so I want to start letting them out when it is warmer. I guess they are just bored and one hen is very agressive. I try and put different snacks and greens in the coop to keep them occupied but I guess cabin fever has set in.

 

[haddiemoo]

Ooops, I am also going to get some Blue Kote and move the agressive hen to a different pen and maybe she will calm down. I should have moved here sooner but I was wondering about how social chickens are. I did not know if I put her off by herself if she would calm down or freak out because of loneliness. Do chinckes need social interaction or are they just fine by themselves. Thanks

 

[etammy]

if you have a dog crate she can be in that and in the coop with the others when you are not around to monitor behavior