Hen with no feathers on back

Layenna and chicks

In the Brooder
Mar 17, 2025
37
39
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Please give me some advice. My roosters are being real rough with my hens and a lot of them are losing feathers on their backs. One in particular has no feathers and her back is completely bare and red. Should I do something?
 
You have a few options. You could separate the rooster so the girls get a break. You could buy or make a chicken saddle so their back is covered. You can make sure his spurs are nice and short so he has less chance of hurting them. How many hens do you have for the rooster?
 
Yes you should do something. If it stopped at feather loss it wouldn't be as much a concern as "red." That is major trigger for other hens to peck at it and make it much worse. Seperate and let them heal. Re-evaluate your Hen to Roo ratio. What is the current ratio?
 
My favorite chicken saddles. Durable, washable, lasts for years, stays on, adjusts to large or small chickens.
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You have a few options. You could separate the rooster so the girls get a break. You could buy or make a chicken saddle so their back is covered. You can make sure his spurs are nice and short so he has less chance of hurting them. How many hens do you have for the rooster?
21 hens 3 roos. We are planning on getting rid of one soon.
 
Personally, I would get rid of two but getting rid of one would help
They are all nice to us -knock on wood- but they're too awesome to give two away. I'm having trouble just giving one away. We also had more, but about a dozen of our hens died since we've had our roos. Thanks for the input.
 
You can pen 2 of your roosters, or even all 3 while hens are being overmated, to give them a break, and rotate one at a time in with the hens. Once mature, roosters will start to challenge one another, possibly fighting or killing each other, and having so many young ones, they tend to create havoc and drive the poor hens crazy. I like having a mild mannered rooster in the flock with the hens. Did you know how your hens died? If you lose another, or every have a sick one that you need testing for, your state vet can perform a necropsy if you keep the body cool, and take it in. Here is a list of state vets to contact:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry...7IOlHOhP-eD8qMtZ70RNq6BMO9kVUn3x6so7q0Z_JgEr8
 
Yes you should do something. If it stopped at feather loss it wouldn't be as much a concern as "red." That is major trigger for other hens to peck at it and make it much worse. Seperate and let them heal. Re-evaluate your Hen to Roo ratio. What is the current ratio?
21 hennies 3 roos
I separated two roos. The other one is gentle with the hens.
 

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