My Beautiful hen is beat up and not laying

[rjchicks]

My one hen is a brahma and I also have a brahma rooster. She lives with 2 other hens and her big brother (the rooster). She was hatched in April 2011 and started laying around August/September. Well about one month ago she stopped laying and hasn't layed since. I also noticed she hasn't had feathers on her back since she stopped laying. I don't think she is molting because the feathers aren't growing back and lets he comes near she runs and hides in the coop or in the corner. He mates with her every chance he gets. I tried fixing the problem by rubbing medicine on her wounds, I bought a hen saver for her which is a vest that goes on her back to protect her from predators and crazy roosters! I tried so many things but nothing seems to work. I just need some opinions and I don't want to kill the rooster because he does protect the hens and I like hearing him so thats not really an option. I don't want to kill her because she is very beautiful hen and a very nice hen. I thought maybe I might have too little hens with one rooster and I was thinking about getting more but I don't know how new chicks would integrate. Just please give me some opinions and response. I hope the pictures aren't too graphic for you but they shouldn't be so please help me. Also if you have any questions for me to better help you with your response, just ask I will try and answer as soon as possible. Thanks

 

[AllyJane]

I don't know what is wrong, but she's beautiful!!!

 

[stilldeb]

Yes, you probably need some more hens so your rooster can 'spread the love' a bit. Can you separate your Brahma out for awhile and give her a break/time to heal (or remove the rooster for a bit)? Like in a 'hospital/isolation cage' or something?


deb g

 

[BuffOrpington88]

More chickens would probably help with the situation. A possible cause of not laying is stress from her injuries.

 

[bj taylor]

poor thing.

 

[azygous]

I have a very soft spot in my heart for Light Brahmas. This breed was what my first three chicks were, and I just have one of them left now.

They are a very intelligent and sensitive breed. Your Brahma is clearly suffering from over-mating. One of my Brahmas, Betty, was the favorite of the "then" rooster Stan. She came to loathe his attentions and would cluck nervously whenever he stalked her. I would intervene when I could.

You must either segregate your roo or isolate your battered hen. She will probably never tolerate being mated again, though.

You can easily segregate your rooster inside a 3' x 4' dog carrier placed inside the run. As long as he is still in the midst of the hens, he'll be quite content.

This will give your hen time to heal while you raise four to six new chicks. When they become mature, you can then let the rooster back in with them, and the problem should be resolved with more hens to divide his attention.

 

[sourland]

I agree with azygous. You should separate either your hen or your rooster. In addition to being battered she looks thin. The stress is what is keeping her from laying. Additional hens MIGHT help, or the rooster might continue overmating her even with more hens in the flock.

 

[rjchicks]

Thanks guys I am going to try and isolate the roo but still keep him around the other chickens and I am going to get more chicks. -Thanks