How long till refeathering?

[ldemmert]

I had a mean roo, mean to me and rough with his girls. He's no longer with us. How long till the girls refeather in their roo-induced bald spots? He's been gone for several months and there's no sign of new feathers. Do they have to go through a whole molt?

 

[7&8]

Good question, and thank you for asking! Unfortunately, I can't answer your question; I'm merely in the same boat.

I had a lovely roo who wore the feathers from his favorite hen's back last spring. She's a regular couch, who could blame him!

She has yet to show signs of feathering in on her saddle. The skin was never broken; her feathers were worn off. I'm wondering the same - will she feather in when she molts - she's 15 months old. The only other thing that could have happened with my hen is that the follicles were so damaged that no feathers can regrow. But I doubt that as the skin was never broken.

In my hen's case, her nutritional needs have been met right along. She eats quality layer pellets, has access to oyster shell, and grazes clover daily. So, I dunno why she hasn't feathered in.

The only thing I could add is that another hen that had "love burns," in her case, on her delicious neck, did indeed regrow her feathers on her neck when she had a mini-molt. She was bald for a couple of months.

Looking forward to responses from others...

And best wishes with your de-frocked hen!

 

[TJbfarms]

Similiar boat too
I had a fox or cat (some animal) get ahold of some of my hens, and their feathers aren't back yet, its been a while
I have a roo with them, but he is so sweet and gentle with them and me. I think it has something to do with molting, but i don't know

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Feathers that were broken off will grow back in when the chicken molts.

Feathers that were pulled out completely, can grow back at other times of the year.

 

[ldemmert]

These feathers are pulled out completely. With winter coming I'm concerned about her getting cold without her feather parka. She seems to be going broody now too and spends all day in the nest box.