my hens are going bald

[IcameIsawIleft]

All six of my hens have lost feathers on the same area in each of their backs. At first I thought they were molting but the feathers haven't grown back and they haven't lost anymore anywhere else.
I do have a rooster with them but it doesn't look bloody at all and I never see him pecking them. So is it mites or some other bug? I'm new to raising chickens so all help is appreciated! Thanks!

 

[enola]

Sounds like wear & tear from the rooster breeding the hens.

 

[peepinglaura]

Do they sleep in a pile? I have 2 hens like that, because there are 5 hens who sleep in a pyramid-style pile. The 2 that are always underneath are missing feathers. I'm seriously wondering if I need to apply sunscreen to one of them!

Laura

 

[IcameIsawIleft]

So if I get several more hens(four) in there will that help? Because I have 4 barred rock pullets that are coming along nicely. That will be 10 hens to 1 rooster.
They all sleep together but not in a pile.
Also, Thanks for being so quick to respond!

 

[Raising Reds]

I have what sounds like a similar problem with one of my hens. She has lost feathers on one side of her neck and they aren't growing back. It has been two or three months now. There is no blood and she doesn't seem to be bothered by it. I have three hens and no roosters.

I figured that if it was mites the area would spread or the other hens would have problems. My guess is that someone is pecking her at night when they roost but I'm not certain.

Can anyone tell what causes this? Do you have suggestions on what I can do to help her?

I took a picture of her but can't figure out how to post it. Any information with that would be appreciated.

 

[Raising Reds]

I think I figured out how to post a picture.

 

[litredhen]

I agree with Enola
"Sounds like wear & tear from the rooster breeding the hens."
But keep an eye on it!!!!
I have a RIR that is small and due to the rooster jumping on her she has a huge wound on her hip under wing. looks very bad but was not apparent with out inspecting under the wing!!
Someone said you could put on a harness to protect?

 

[crtrlovr]

The chicken saddles do a very good job of protecting their backs & the area under the wings. One of my buff orp hens had a quarter-sized hole under each wing from the spurs on my RIR rooster. The roos will also grab the hens by the back of the neck (usually just the feathers, not tearing the skin), causing feather breakage and loss there, too.

 

[Cackling Hen]

Not enough hens for your rooster sounds like

 

[litredhen]

Is there such thing as a best ratio of hens to rooster?