Molting, Mites, or Mating?

[Ms Luz]

Hello, I have my first flock of Australorp. 5 hens and 3 roosters. Padrote the main rooster keeps an eye on everything and everyone. He doesn't let the other roosters mate with the ladies. He even think, I am his haha.

Anyways, I have 2 hens loosing head feathers and other loosing feathers from the lower back. Would that be peaking on the head part and mating on the lower back? I looked for Mites but can't see any. I put oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic, etc around and inside the coop and run. I put garlic, honey, and apple vinager on their water once a week.

I am working during if I should put orégano oil on the back and a saddle on them?

Please advise.

 

[LaFleche]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
With the ratio of 3 males to only 5 females you have at least 2 males too many.

The females will be mated way too often as the males often start a mating contest to show their dominance which leaves the females very ruffled with bald patches and rather stressed out.

Choose one male and rehome or eat the other two.

 

[AGeese]

Maybe go easy with the garlic, but all I see is dander. Probably a molt.

 

[Ms Luz]

Hello and welcome to BYC!
With the ratio of 3 males to only 5 females you have at least 2 males too many.

The females will be mated way too often as the males often start a mating contest to show their dominance which leaves the females very ruffled with bald patches and rather stressed out.

Choose one male and rehome or eat the other

View attachment 4024632View attachment 4024633View attachment 4024634Hello, I have my first flock of Australorp. 5 hens and 3 roosters. Padrote the main rooster keeps an eye on everything and everyone. He doesn't let the other roosters mate with the ladies. He even think, I am his haha.

Anyways, I have 2 hens loosing head feathers and other loosing feathers from the lower back. Would that be peaking on the head part and mating on the lower back? I looked for Mites but can't see any. I put oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic, etc around and inside the coop and run. I put garlic, honey, and apple vinager on their water once a week.

I am working during if I should put orégano oil on the back and a saddle on them?

Please advise.

I have been trying to find them a home, but no one I know want roosters. I used to have and ws able to find a home for 1.

So is not Mites or molting? Is mating?

 

[LaFleche]

I have been trying to find them a home, but no one I know want roosters. I used to have and ws able to find a home for 1.

So is not Mites or molting? Is mating?

To me the feather damage visible in your pictures looks like typical overmating.

How old are they? All of the same age?

Do you live in the northern hemisphere (winter)?

 

[Rhodebar Lover]

I feel extremely comfortable saying over mating by the style of damage and your very skewed gender ratio. I would absolutely rehome two of the males as quickly as possible. Males are incredibly brutal to the girls and it's unfair to subject them to constant mating. This isn't to say they don't have mites but the main issue is overmating. For a very short term solution chicken saddles could work but the route issue is too many males.

 

[Ms Luz]

To me the feather damage visible in your pictures looks like typical overmating.

How old are they? All of the same age?

Do you live in the northern hemisphere (winter)?

They all are about 8 months of age. I bought them online and they arrived on May 30th, 2024. Southern hemisphere. We had snow yesterday and today.

 

[AGeese]

They all are about 8 months of age. I bought them online and they arrived on May 30th, 2024. Southern hemisphere. We had snow yesterday and today.

You could locate your country here and see if anyone is near: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/find-your-states-or-your-countrys-thread.270925/

 

[Ms Luz]

I feel extremely comfortable saying over mating by the style of damage and your very skewed gender ratio. I would absolutely rehome two of the males as quickly as possible. Males are incredibly brutal to the girls and it's unfair to subject them to constant mating. This isn't to say they don't have mites but the main issue is overmating. For a very short term solution chicken saddles could work but the route issue is too many males.

Padrote don't let the other roosters touch any of the ladies. If they get too close he chase them. Papa is the one that is always trying to get one, but Padrote chase him. Koko poor thing he tries to mate with the solar lights, pieces of wood, etc. Padrote doesn't not chase him because he doesn't feel the thread. I hatched some of their eggs for first time thought they will not hatched and I hatched 7 out of 8. I am also trying to find them home as they are 5 weeks and one is trying to sing already. I am keeping 1 hen, and give the rest, together with Papa and Koko. T.T

 

[LaFleche]

Padrote don't let the other roosters touch any of the ladies. If they get too close he chase them. Papa is the one that is always trying to get one, but Padrote chase him. Koko poor thing he tries to mate with the solar lights, pieces of wood, etc. Padrote doesn't not chase him because he doesn't feel the thread. I hatched some of their eggs for first time thought they will not hatched and I hatched 7 out of 8. I am also trying to find them home as they are 5 weeks and one is trying to sing already. I am keeping 1 hen, and give the rest, together with Papa and Koko. T.T

Fingers crossed you will find them a new home soon