Help! My cockerel suddenly started balding.

[rosemarythyme]

Do you know why they do this and why it's never happened before? Did they only start grooming eachother now that they're (pretty much)full grown and laying eggs?

My guess is it's hormonal - now that they're laying the cockerel's advances are welcomed, so the girls are showing him some affection. Once it becomes a habit they'll likely return to doing it whenever his beard grows back enough for them to pick at again.

Some of my bearded birds (past and present) are messy eaters so the food bits in the beard are also attractive to flockmates.

 

[ella2025]

My guess is it's hormonal - now that they're laying the cockerel's advances are welcomed, so the girls are showing him some affection. Once it becomes a habit they'll likely return to doing it whenever his beard grows back enough for them to pick at again.

Some of my bearded birds (past and present) are messy eaters so the food bits in the beard are also attractive to flockmates.

Thats... just. Great. Do you think it will happen to my 14 week old chick once her beard grows a little more? Also, will the favorite hen be the most"affectionate" and the culprit?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you think it will happen to my 14 week old chick once her beard grows a little more?

No way to know for sure. She might not allow it, or she might like it a lot and go around presenting herself for grooming.

Also, will the favorite hen be the most"affectionate" and the culprit?

Not sure. To figure that out you'd probably need to observe the flock's interaction for a while.