Is this a from pecking or something else?

[GreenHaven]

This is a 6 month old Australorp hen. We had a rooster who pulled feathers out of her head, along with a few other hens. They have all seemed to recover, but she is getting worse, and at times those bare spots look almost as if they had bled. The rooster we have now is pretty gentle (the rough guy was dispatched to the freezer) - so I don't think its my rooster. I have been trying to watch the hens (11 in the flock) and it seems like there is little squabbling except for when scratch is scattered. If anything, she seems to peck others more than they peck her.

I have debated isolating her to allow for better healing - but if she's getting bullied it will likely be worse when I return her to the flock. I was thinking perhaps to put a healing ointment on it? Then I wonder if I'm overlooking some condition she might have, or a parasite? I don't see any but...

Can anyone offer some insight or suggestions on this?

 

[coach723]

It's blurry when I zoom in, but I suspect it's getting pecked. Sometimes bare spots attract more attention. That is where the roo's hang on when they mount however, so it could be getting hurt then, since it's bare. Or it could be happening on the roosts at night. The feathers may not fill in until she has her annual molt. You can put a little plain triple antibiotic ointment on any actual wounds. Some feel that blu-kote disguises it enough to stop picking, but some feel it may attract more. It also stains everything it touches, so wear gloves and apply it outside. Is your rooster mature or is he also 6 months old? If he's young, you may need to separate him to let him mature a little and calm down, before reintroducing him to the hens. Young cockerels can be horribly rude and ill-mannered until their hormones settle.

 

[CCsGarden]

Sorry to hear your hen is having trouble!
If you no longer have rooster, they could be picking at each other due to change of pecking order. She may not grow those feathers back until her next molt.

 

[GreenHaven]

I do think it must be the hens - not sure when or why it's happening. I do have two separate roost spaces for the flock. (I had pulled the hens that the rooster hurt and put them in a small mobile coop to recover. When I merged them back into their flock I just wheeled the mobile coop in, and left it so they could slowly reintegrate.) Oddly, they still roost in the mobile coop. I find that really odd.

I kept only one rooster. He is 6 months also - but Ive watched him very carefully and Im quite sure he's blameless. I had another one that did all the damage and he is gone. This little hen seems feisty and happy enough - just looks so awful.

 

[GreenHaven]

It's blurry when I zoom in, but I suspect it's getting pecked. Sometimes bare spots attract more attention. That is where the roo's hang on when they mount however, so it could be getting hurt then, since it's bare. Or it could be happening on the roosts at night. The feathers may not fill in until she has her annual molt. You can put a little plain triple antibiotic ointment on any actual wounds. Some feel that blu-kote disguises it enough to stop picking, but some feel it may attract more. It also stains everything it touches, so wear gloves and apply it outside. Is your rooster mature or is he also 6 months old? If he's young, you may need to separate him to let him mature a little and calm down, before reintroducing him to the hens. Young cockerels can be horribly rude and ill-mannered until their hormones settle.

Yes she is always on the move - hard to get a close up. I think I'll do the antibiotic - thank you for your help.

 

[coach723]

Not surprised they still want to roost in the mobile coop. They are very much creatures of habit and dislike change. If you want them to go back to roosting in the main coop you will need to remove the mobile one and probably physically put them on the other roosts, maybe several nights in a row, til they accept it and go in themselves. Changing anything in their environment can throw them for a loop.

 

[GreenHaven]

Not surprised they still want to roost in the mobile coop. They are very much creatures of habit and dislike change. If you want them to go back to roosting in the main coop you will need to remove the mobile one and probably physically put them on the other roosts, maybe several nights in a row, til they accept it and go in themselves. Changing anything in their environment can throw them for a loop.

Yes that is so true. We brooded them in a old style small coop and when we moved them to the grown up roost they were completely confused. Slept everywhere but in the roost until I hand placed them multiple times.