Help please

[travisbeville]

Over the last week my hens have started losing the feathers on the back part of their saddle near the base of the tail feathers and their skin has been very rough looking and kind of calloused but tonight when I checked on them one hen was off to herself and when I looked I thought shehad been attacked by something. There is a huge chunk of skin missing in the same spot they are all losing their feathers... can anyone please tell me what is going on and how can I stop it..

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[Bridebeliever]

Okay, I'm going to ask an obvious question here...please forgive me...do you have a rooster?

 

[Pork Pie]

Okay, I'm going to ask an obvious question here...please forgive me...do you have a rooster?

Was just about to ask the same!

 

[travisbeville]

Yes I have 2 roosters...are they really being that rough with them

 

[Bridebeliever]

Yes, that's exactly what is happening. That's why they sell those things called chicken saddles. Other then separating them from the girls so the girls can heal I don't have wonderful advice.

 

[Pork Pie]

Yes I have 2 roosters...are they really being that rough with them

That would be my conclusion. Rather than us go back and forth with questions and answers, the recommended roo to hen ratio is 1:10. Two roos, means ideally you should have 20 hens. Fewer hens than this can lead to the injuries you see.

I'd suggest treating (warm saline solution and iodine on the wounds should help) and isolating the affected hens (as chickens can go into a pecking frenzy at the sight of blood) until healed.

Since there will be fewer hens around (and so focus mating on fewer than before) I'd remove the roos from the flock. You can buy saddles to protect your hens from overly enthusiastic mating, but I'm not too sure thats a long term solution IMO.

All the best
CT

 

[travisbeville]

Ok thank you very much...I figured 11 hens would be enough for 2 roosters....now I have probably a stupid question but can I separate the 2 roosters together away from the hens without them fighting each other?

 

[Pork Pie]

Ok thank you very much...I figured 11 hens would be enough for 2 roosters....now I have probably a stupid question but can I separate the 2 roosters together away from the hens without them fighting each other?

No question is a stupid one! IMO it depends on how they get along currently and the space that you would move them into (less space = more stress = more aggression). In the absence of hens the aggression should be less, but they would need to be out of sight of the hens. If you are not intending getting more hens, I'd suggest that you get rid of the least favourite roo ASAP, then you will have no issues around isolating just one roo. Depending on your mindset, one of them could be sitting nicely in the crockpot by the end of the day. Roos are not too easy to relocate since they are a common by-product of breeding - I'm not suggesting you should not try, if thats what you would prefer to do and if so, you could advertise on your state thread.

All the best
CT

 

[travisbeville]

Ok so after months of not getting better just a lot worse. I believe i have came to the conclusion that the hens are fighting over nesting spots. I have caught 3 hens in the same nesting box pulling at each others feathers wanting out of the box.