Hens feather loss on neck and back

[Annalyse]

My Plymouth has feather loss on her neck. No bugs. I was thinking she’s molting but there’s no other feather loss on her. And my other hens well all have feather loss from my rooster mating them so much.

 

[Annalyse]

I have a rooster who mates his girls a lot. Most of them have feather loss on their backs. My one Plymouth has death loss on her neck but I don’t think it’s from mating. At first I thought she was molting but no other signs and there’s no bugs. I have one chicken saddle. I’ve never used it. Are there other ways to fix this.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yours are not even barebacked as some I have seen, and without a doubt this bothers people more than it does birds. Even if you pull the rooster, while the damage won't get worse, it won't get better until they molt in the fall.

Some roosters are just clumsier, some are rougher, but sometimes it is the hen's feathers too. Some hens just loose their feathers more easily.

So to cure it, wait until after the molt. Get a different rooster, do not hatch any eggs from chickens that have barebacks.

I tried the saddles, but everyone hated them, the hens, the rooster and me. I think bugs can get started under them, because they cannot preen them or dust bath.

Mrs K

 

[SilverBirds]

Do you have any roosters?