Foghorn Hen Picking on Rooster

[Triumph65]

Dolores, my Foghorn is neck picking my rooster when they are roosting. I don’t know how she always works her self into position on his passenger side but that side of his neck is getting torn up.

Help! We love our rooster. Is it time to retire Dolores?

Specifics: We have 1 rooster, 6 hens (Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, the one Foghorn, and an Australorp). They have 80 square feet in coop (8 x 10) with 8 foot ceiling. The top roosting bars are 10 feet long. They have an auto door and are free range.

Thanks for any input. Pics attached.

 

[DobieLover]

Can you post pictures of the birds in question?
It's unfortunately somewhat common for hens to pluck the feathers of their roosters and their roosters to just sit there and let them do it.

 

[Triumph65]

@DobieLover - I will. I just went to the coop to check in the birds and noticed the rooster vigorously scratching that side of his neck. He also appeared to be pecking at it. Maybe it’s not Dolores pecking at him.

I’ll have my wife take some pictures tomorrow. Maybe she can even sneak out there tonight and take a picture of his neck with a headlamp while he is roosting.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[DobieLover]

@DobieLover - I will. I just went to the coop to check in the birds and noticed the rooster vigorously scratching that side of his neck. He also appeared to be pecking at it. Maybe it’s not Dolores pecking at him.

I’ll have my wife take some pictures tomorrow. Maybe she can even sneak out there tonight and take a picture of his neck with a headlamp while he is roosting.

Thanks for the reply.

If he's digging at it you need to go get him and bring him in and really get a good look at his skin under the feathers. Look for mites, lice, or any type of skin abnormality or injury.