Missing feathers back of neck

[Kris5902]

Ok, I know why this is happening... my cockerel has a favorite hen, the first to lay and at the Top of the Pecking order. I’ve even watched her peck and chase him when he gets frisky with the other girls. She has lost a lot of feathers at the back of her neck from him mounting her though. No problems with her back feathers, and most of the other girls who receive his attentions aren’t missing any.

Any thoughts on preventing further loss? I’m worried that if she loses all of them she might be injured when he tries to mate her (he’s fairly good and gentle, considering how young he is) I meant to pick up some stop pick when I was in town, but we didn’t get to the feed store. Would Blu Kote work to deter it? He has 10 girls in with him.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Blu kote is to prevent chickens from seeing and pecking at blood. It won't work here.
There are saddles you can put on hens to protect their backs from roosters. I'm not sure about the neck, but maybe some sort of loose sleeve around her neck, over the problem area?

 

[Kris5902]

She has a few little scabs as well, but no excessive bleeding. I also meant to ask, how long until her feathers will regrow there? I’m hoping I don’t have to wait for a full molt... they are just going on 5 months old

 

[DuckWhisperer06]

Not mine or my chicken, but one of these chicken saddles should work, but like @Fishkeeper said I’m not sure about her neck.

 

[Aunt Angus]

There are saddles you can put on hens to protect their backs from roosters. I'm not sure about the neck, but maybe some sort of loose sleeve around her neck, over the problem area?

I have no answer for you, Kris, as I have no experience with roosters, but I keep picturing a chicken in a turtleneck! Or this here scarf! Haha! So fashionable. It's what all the over-mated hens are wearing these days.

 

[Aunt Angus]

But actually, maybe something like that would work, like @Fishkeeper suggests. A sleeve off a child's shirt, a cut off sock, or just a quickly stitched tube. Vet wrap, maybe?

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

My hens wear saddles... But their wings are becoming bare! they sure are cute though!!

and a little something of my own invention.. The "Crest Keeper" AKA "Hen-net"

 

[Aunt Angus]

and a little something of my own invention.. The "Crest Keeper" AKA "Hen-net"

Omigawd! That is so cute and useful! Bet you don't have to trim, and she can probably see much better. I love it!

Sorry to interrupt the thread, but had to comment about the hen-net.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

Omigawd! That is so cute and useful! Bet you don't have to trim, and she can probably see much better. I love it!

Sorry to interrupt the thread, but had to comment about the hen-net.

thank you!! I don't have to trim! She sees alot better, and no more crest picking from the other hens!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Some other threads about feather loss (not molt related) say around a month to six weeks for them to grow back fully. That's the best answer I can come up with. Hopefully someone who actually knows what they're doing will answer.

Poor little thing! I guess it's like they say: love hurts.