Hen looks like losing feathers

[ingv8700]

I have 1 hen out of my 20 in my flock, that looks like she is losing some of her back feathers. She is pretty red in color, but the 2 spots where she is losing them, looks like they are white. There is no skin expose, and I have inspected her and there are no mites, but I don't know why she would be losing feathers in 2 spots. Her 2 sisters look fine.

Is she "molting" and the others havent started yet. I think she might be the one that is starting to brood, but not really sure. I am a newb when it comes to this kind of stuff.

Thanks!

 

[mypicklebird]

Do you have a rooster(s)? Molting in patches, or rooster damage to a favorite hen would be my guess if it is just on her back.

 

[ingv8700]

Yes we have two roosters.

 

[mypicklebird]

The 'favorite' hen will get stripped of feathers on her back from the rooster's feet, also he may pull feathers out with his beak. If this is the problem, you can get her a saddle to protect her, or just ignore it if she is not getting actually injured (scratched/bloodied) on her back. Or give her to a non rooster home, but then the next 'favorite' will likely get her feathers pulled off. The favorite hen is the one that is the slowest to run away from an aggressive rooster, or is just the most cooperative. I have a hen that will squat when a person walks by- guests like her because they can 'pet' her. I don't tell them that she thinks they want to mate with her.....

 

[ingv8700]

I will have to watch her and see. She is one of the more cooperative chickens when it comes to picking her up. She did run into the coop today when I was trying to take a picture of her that was about it.

I just found a pattern that I can make them up really fast. Huh, may be a new hobby for me to make millions. ha ha ha. thanks!

 

[iheartchkns]

This has been helpful to me, too. I have a hen who has lost a lot of feathers on her lower back, and she is the only hen for the rooster I have. She has taken to sleeping in separate quarters in the past couple of days, so I guess this explains it. The rooster is just wearing her out. Poor thing. She is staying in a pet "igloo" and laying her eggs there, too, which we didn't know until we discovered 13 eggs in there one day!