My hen has lost feathers on her breast

[Lilytoes]

Is she O.K. ? There is no feathers on her chest just bare skin. I only have one roo and one hen. So my next question my hen(Eaglet) seems very harrassed by my roo(Sydney) is it alright to have just one hen to a roo. I know that my qu:/estions sound stupid but I'm still kinda new to this. SO PLEASE HELP. They had one chic and she is laying on ten eggs now.

 

[TXmom]

I think we need lots more information before we can know what's going on. Like...what breed are they, how old are they, what are the living arrangements (secure coop and run, or free range, etc).

It's possible she could be molting. Also, broody hens often pluck their breast feathers...has she been sitting in the nest box a lot?

 

[LarryPQ]

It is that time of year for broody hens. I think she might be *less harassed* with another hen or two. Chickens are social animals

 

[TXmom]

Oh, and usually the ratio is more like 1 roo to 10 hens, but breeding trios is common, too...1 roo to 2 hens. Seems like 1 hen would be harrassed by just 1 roo. I have too many roos for my girls, and most of them are missing feathers off their backs, but not their breast. I just got 12 new pullet chicks to help even out the numbers.

 

[Lilytoes]

Hi there! I think that she some sort of bantum and yes she has been sitting on her eggs alot. Sorry she is a free rangr chicken. They're only in a coop at night.

 

[TXmom]

OK, then she is almost definitely broody. She wants to me a mommy and hatch her eggs

Most bantams are prone to go broody...it is spring and my little Silkie went broody this past weekend. They pluck their breast feathers so they can have skin-to-egg contact...keeps the eggs warm.

 

[Lilytoes]

Thank you for all the replies. You're all very helpful. One more question if their chick is a girl is it O.k. for the papa and chick to um.. you know?

 

[LarryPQ]

Yes. Chickens can't read, so there won't be any Bible morality quoting going on.

No really, there is not an issue. Most breeds are quite inbred, but you can prevent that by not letting pullet baby hatch any of her own eggs. Still there isnt an inbreeding issue for a large number of generations.

 

[Attack Chicken]

Yup she's broody.. I have 2 bare breasted birds here to

1 already hatched a clutch last year and now she's bald again!

Here's one of my girls that has been thinking of setting..

 

[LarryPQ]

Such an embarrasing pic for that girl.