Hens picking on each other

[dakunst]

We have 5 sex links. This is the first we have ever raised chickens. Got them in March and already had one start laying this week. Anyway, there is one hen that has a bald spot on her neck. It seems to be getting bigger too. It's too high up for her to be doing it to herself, so another hen or all of them are doing it too her. She also seems the be the runt, a little scrawny compared to the rest. Any suggestions on what to do?

 

[ChicKat]

Your avatar is sooooooooooooo cute!!!!

Welcome to the BYC forum! Big congratulations on your first egg.

One thing that may be useful if you can possibly do it is to see if you actually do see one or some of the chickens feather plucking the neck of your littlest one. Gail Damerow said something about chickens feather plucking if they need salt. There is also the 'boredom' factor, and search for more protein. If you can free range your chickens, it may help.....

If you see just one of your hens doing it----you could get a plastic device to prevent that.....Here's a post I did awhile back:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/673137/device-to-stop-pecking

You can get these on eBay in the UK.....and yes, they do work, and the chicken is not harmed...(she looks a little silly though).

PM me if you would like the solution for saline and the quote from the book 'storey's guide to keeping chickens'. Just at this moment, I don't have it handy.

One other thing....sometimes chickens can stick their neck out----and rub their neck feathers off, in a feeder, waterer or pen...so keep an eye out for that as well as the behaviors of the others that may be removing her feathers. Good luck with it.

 

[Fred's Hens]

We have 5 sex links. This is the first we have ever raised chickens. Got them in March and already had one start laying this week. Anyway, there is one hen that has a bald spot on her neck. It seems to be getting bigger too. It's too high up for her to be doing it to herself, so another hen or all of them are doing it too her. She also seems the be the runt, a little scrawny compared to the rest. Any suggestions on what to do?

She may indeed be rubbing it raw on the edge of the feeder, if you have the type that can do that. She may also indeed by picking the feathers herself. Why? Nervous tick? Low totem pole birds are subject to stress.

I had a couple of RSLs with raw, featherless neck fronts showing up. I observed them "scratching and digging" at that spot. Their necks are amazingly limber. I also observed some head pecking. I rubbed those spots with permethrin, made into a very wet paste and smeared it on their head spots and especially on their balding front neck areas. Within days, I saw feathers sprouting. I re-applied the treatment in 10 days. The bald spots completely regrew feathering and hens stopped scratching at it. While I was at it, of course, I dusted the vent area, since I already had them in hand for treatment anyhow. Hope that offers an idea anyhow.