Missing feathers on chickens back

[SammieHorn]

Hey guys ! Can someone help me figure out what's wrong with my chickens? Almost all of them are missing feathers on their backs. It doesn't seem to be bothering them though. I've tried checking for mites or lice but don't see anything on them. I don't believe it's my rooster over mating as I have 31 hens and only one rooster but I'm not sure what else it could be. They're only about 20-24 weeks old and I have sprayed for mites and lice just in case.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you have a cockerel? That could be feather damage from trying to mate. If no cockerels, it may be feather picking.

 

[photohutch13]

My girls feathers look similar. At first I thought they were molting but then remembered reading where a cockerel can do this. I have one cockerel and thirteen hens.

 

[Eggcessive]

In my first year of chickens, some of my girls got similar bare spots from an over eager young cockerel mating them. The loss of feathers there can take until the first molt is completed for feathers to regrow. I used hen saddles on the ones who were bare. The next year, they were all fine and did not need the hen saddles.

 

[SammieHorn]

Then yeah it must be my cockerel doing it, I didn't think he would be the issue because of how many hens I have to go around. Thank you all a ton!

 

[Eggcessive]

You could try separating him for part of the day, or put himmin a pen for awhile. How many pullets do you have? Is he favoring the ones with the thinned feathers?

 

[SammieHorn]

You could try separating him for part of the day, or put himmin a pen for awhile. How many pullets do you have? Is he favoring the ones with the thinned feathers?

I have 31 pullets, and he does seem to be bothering the ones missing feathers more, they are also the smaller pullets.