Missing back feathers, is this a molt?

[Peppercorngal]

Many of my hens are missing the feathers on their backs. I've looked very carefully and closely, I even used a magnifying glass and see no mites, or any bugs at all. They are not all affected with this either. Can this just be a molt? I noticed them pecking at each other so I applied some Blue Kote, I'm sorry this makes the photos hard to see. Any thoughts?

 

[HuffleClaw]

Looks like rooster / cockerel damage. Any chance you have a rowdy boy in your flock?

 

[Shadowfire]

Agree. Consider some hen saddles and be sure to file down the roos' spurs in the meantime. Best of luck!

 

[Chris Hernandez]

Many of my hens are missing the feathers on their backs. I've looked very carefully and closely, I even used a magnifying glass and see no mites, or any bugs at all. They are not all affected with this either. Can this just be a molt? I noticed them pecking at each other so I applied some Blue Kote, I'm sorry this makes the photos hard to see. Any thoughts?

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It does look like rooster damage. My hens used to get that all the time. I fixed it by getting more hens lol. You could also put a saddle on them.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I did have a thought that it was from Harvey, the rooster, but he is so sweet I didn't really think so. He is huge in comparison to the hens (about one & a half times their size) so I guess I'm not totally surprised. I've been looking at hen saddles and may get one to copy and then sew more for the girls. Harvey is very nice, I have seen him mate with the girls and it doesn't look traumatic at all. I guess the ones that have all feathers intact are the ones that aren't getting much "action" from him. Thank you for your responses!

 

[Chris Hernandez]

I did have a thought that it was from Harvey, the rooster, but he is so sweet I didn't really think so. He is huge in comparison to the hens (about one & a half times their size) so I guess I'm not totally surprised. I've been looking at hen saddles and may get one to copy and then sew more for the girls. Harvey is very nice, I have seen him mate with the girls and it doesn't look traumatic at all. I guess the ones that have all feathers intact are the ones that aren't getting much "action" from him. Thank you for your responses!
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Yep my rooster was sweet too and it doesn’t look painful for the hens its just that sometimes roosters mount a hen over and over again. It happens. Hope you fix everything!!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Ok, I found a pattern for the chicken saddles and will be making them in the next couple of days. It's been raining here for 6 days and the weatherman said tonight we are looking at 3 more rain days and possible flooding. So this is a perfect project for staying in! (we won't flood here, we are in the foothills)

 

[shadow82399]

I once had a rooster that caused this... He just mounted the hens over and over and it wore their feathers off. Poor girls!

 

[Peppercorngal]

Ok, I just finished my first (rough) chicken saddle. I will see if this size and stretch of the elastic is correct and make adjustments if necessary. Then I'll make many more that are much nicer and "more finished"! I'm always making clothes for my two grand girls and have plenty of scrap material that is perfect for this application! Lucky me! Thank you all for your help.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Update: I put the chicken saddle on the chicken and she hates it. I did it late last evening just before they roosted for the night. This morning she was in the nesting box. After laying her egg she just ran and ran and ran and ran all over the yard. She runs to Harvey, the rooster but he just runs from her, as do the other chickens. I'll give her today, but if she doesn't calm down I'll have to take it off of her. She is disturbing all the other hens, making them run as well and I can see egg production falling away! This does not seem to be working.