GLW Losing feathers

[Reinbeau]

I have two GLW's that are almost 30 weeks old that look very scruffy at the base of their tails. This is the worst of the two:

And here's the one that's healthy looking:

They don't seem to be being pecked at all, they're losing tailfeathers and the feathers at the base of their tails. What is it?

 

[silkiechicken]

Are they by any chance your roosters favorite hens?

 

[Reinbeau]

I don't know about favorite, he's got 14 to choose from, but they are by far the smallest of the birds. I have noticed a whitish line forming on the BO hens, and on one of the BRs, and Stumpy is a large roo - I posted this photo in another thread, but here he is:

He really is big to be stepping all over these poor girls. Do you think that's really the problem? What do I do about it? I only have one coop and don't really have the facilities to separate them....I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

[hcammack]

Maybe chicken saddles are the answer if he is over breeding them. Have you checked for lice and mite? they are to young to be molting. Is there a heat lamp close to the roosts I once had a hen loose her back feathers by getting to close to the red heat lamp and getting her feathers burned.

Henry

 

[mamarosa]

It's funny I have 5 black australorps that are about 6 months old and just noticed the same thing on my birds
one is just as bad as the picture you posted the rest just a little loss of feathers. we live in michigan and it has been cold. I adjusted per miss prissy adding black sunflower seeds some cottage cheese and yogurt in case their protein is low and decreased the corn and scratch and added more fruits and veggie
Now you guys are saying a mating problem. I don't have mites or lice I checked. the coop is dry and there is no evidence of illness
combs are red, poop normal no coughs, sneezing,
Out of 25 hens I am getting about 20 eggs a day.
How should I dress this area, duck tape??? meds
any help would be appreciated

 

[bkbingham]

I too have a Hen that I just noticed with same problem...I have two roos and 4 hens...I need to get rid of one, but cant find someone to take one....I am thinking its the mating...

 

[silkiechicken]

The small ones are probably his favorites and smaller so he's probably ripping out feathers. Saddles might be the way to go. My roo likes the leghorns... by fall they are getting thin on the backs, while the sexlinks show no wear.