Missing feathers on chickens

[addietief]

I noticed my leghorn chicken has a round patch of broken feathers. I see no skin - it seems like just a layer of feathers are gone. Has anyone had this problem?

 

[sourland]

If you have a rooster/roosters this is a common result of their mating the hens.

 

[addietief]

yes, we do have a rooster. Will the feathers grow back? We just lost a hen to fly strike, and she had feathers missing everywhere so I was worried this was happening again. Thanks.

 

[sourland]

Frequently large or clumsy roosters injure hens with their toenails or spurs when mating them. Multiple roosters fighting over or attempting to mate hens at the same time can also cause this damage. I have no idea what your situation is, but you may want to separate your roosters or decrease their number to cut down on potential injury/damage to the hens.

 

[addietief]

we have one rooster and two hens. He is skinny but must have very sharp claws. We are new to raising chickens. Glad it's not any disease. Thank you.

 

[sourland]

You can trim his toenails much as you would do your dogs.

 

[addietief]

Really? I didn't know you could do that. We are VERY new to chickens. Do they have a 'quick' like dogs? How about holding the nail and a gentle sandpaper rub? I don't know if they will stand for either one of those.