Hens Missing Feathers

[wordgirl]

It's mainly two of our Buff Orp hens, but a couple other hens are missing some back feathers, too. I'm thinking it's from the roo over-mating, or being a tad too rough? They seem fine other than missing some feathers. Will the roo hurt them if I don't do anything about it?

 

[wordgirl]

I was just thinking...should this be in the Emergencies/Diseases/Injuries and Cures section?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

I'd set the roo up in a cage of his own every few days. I don't let a rough roo run constantly with the hens. I have one caged right now. The other runs with them all the time. he's a gentleman

 

[countrychics]

an older roo has more dominant CLAWS this is perfectly normal... you can keep the roo in rooster jail, cut his spurs back, or .. some ppl sell off the roo every year or 2 and keep and young roo w/ the hens...just depends on if u want fertile eggs or not.........

 

[gritsar]

I put a saddle on the girl that my roo favors. She's the only one that is missing back feathers. The rest of his 12 girls are fine. We also trimmed the roo's spurs. Actually spur, since he somehow broke one off.
I would never take my roo away from his girls. I free range and he has a job to do, protecting his girls. IMO, constantly switching out roos and/or bringing a roo back and forth to the flock is not only a hassle, but unnecessarily upsetting to the pecking order.
Saddles are simpler and the girls get used to them in a hurry.

 

[wordgirl]

I do think I probably need to make some aprons – any tips? – but I was wondering if maybe the reason they're missing feathers is because Mr. Incredible (our roo) is so giant. He's not quite as twice as big as the hens, but just about when comparing him with the smaller ones. Do you think that could be it?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I made some aprons, but found the ones I bought off a link here on BYC stay on better. I don't think it's so much the roo's size, my roo is huge too, but his way of positioning himself once he mounts the hen. Some roos just have a better technique.

 

[Hennyhandler]

I had this same problem but I also got to noticing where the back of the wing lays against there backs the feathers are torn. There is only the quill there. Is this from the rooster even with saddles on? I think the saddles really help. Mine have some fluff that;s growing back in at least.