Missing feathers

[yodelhawk]

Thanks for your help guys. Here is my prob. I have a flock of 13 hens and one roo. About 6 of the girls are missing feathers off their back with one of them almost to the extreme. The others have small "bald areas". The ones that are afflicted most, are the ones that hang out with the roo all the time. The ones that keep their distance from him seem to be ok. I have looked close and if there are parasites there, I do not see them. Also wouldn't the whole flock be afflicted? So I guess my question is, does anybody think this is just "Roo ware and tear?" I just don't want to get into the cold season and have the girls freezing. Thanks again for your help...YH

 

[robin416]

Probably. You either need to get chicken saddles or remove him from them so they can grow feathers back. If this continues he will begin to draw blood.

 

[yodelhawk]

Thanks Robin Now the million $ question, where do I find saddles? Thanks

 

[sandy sea]

There are many people that sell them on this site. There is even a pattern that you can use to make them. I bought my from lovemychix on this site.

 

[Judy]

I make my own. All you need is scissors and a scrap of polarfleece. Scroll down on this site:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=167

I didn't even include the tail feather hole as my hen's missing feathers are higher up. Doesn't bother her a bit. I had to experiment with the dimensions a bit, then made a pattern out of a piece of paper.