Missing Feathers on Necks

[MesMama]

I'm a total newbie to chickens and I was curious-all 6 of my hens are missing feathers on the backs of their necks, I thought maybe lice? Then I saw the rooster breed (hope that's the right terminology lol!) one of the hens and he must be pulling the feathers when he's grabbing their necks with his beak? They aren't missing feathers anywhere else. Thoughts?

 

[MesMama]

Any thoughts?

 

[lazy gardener]

If you can post a pic, that would help, but you are making a reasonable assumption.

 

[MesMama]

I just got them yesterday from a sweet gal that is retiring from chicken raising and they are not quite used to me yet, not sure I can a better pic than this one from yesterday when we brought them home. They're in a kennel for transport

 

[MesMama]

It's really hard to see

 

[thechxwhisperer]

Yes, the rooster does that, I have a few hens who have feathers on their neck missing because of the roo!

 

[MesMama]

Okay, well I won't worry about lice etc unless I see more evidence of them Thank you!!

 

[thechxwhisperer]

Welcome!

 

[MesMama]

Welcome!e

Sorry to keep bothering you ;o So I went down to feed them and sat in there for a bit just to watch them and I have one hen that is dirty, like mud on her feathers? She was that way when I picked her up yesterday. Anyway, she was pretty much taking dust baths/wood chip and straw baths the entire time I was down there and the others were eating things off her, like several at a time were pecking and chewing things. She just laid there, so it wasn't aggressive at all, it's like they were cleaning her. I've noticed them doing that to each other as well. She's the only one that is dirty like that with mud on her. Thoughts?

 

[MesMama]

Oh and I noticed she's the one they tend to pick on, not terribly but like she would get all nestled in to take her bath and one would come over and shove her out. That happened several times. Not sure f this is important but just trying to give all the info I can so I know if I need to treat them for life or mites etc or if it's just normal chicken behavior