My hens are losing their feathers and it isn't molting

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry. Wasn't trying to be dumb. Just trying to learn how to tell the difference between different things. I was doing some reading on molting last night and the big empty patches looked like some of the pictures I saw. When it was said that the other hens started losing feathers after the rooster had been removed I figured it wasn't an overmating thing and maybe it was just molting.

Would hens that aren't overcrowded really pick each other that badly? Gosh.

No one was saying that!
Molting usually starts at the neck and head, then progresses downward, but not always. You would see new feather growth/pin feathers though.
The back of the black hen's head in the photo - the loss is from mating and/or picking. Same with the "pattern" of loss on the back and tail. She's probably a favorite.
The others have some loss on the wings, likely from from the rooster was placing his feet - they have no choice really, the feet are placed on wings, they grab the back of the neck to hold on - feather damage and some loss is to be expected.
Feathers that are broken/damaged may just now be seen after the rooster is separated, it's not like they are going to mend - as time goes by, the hen preens, takes dust baths and general wear and tear will be seen even without him there.

Yes, hens can be rough with one another, they can pick at each other and you may even have a dominant one that will mount other hens like a rooster - it's not always about sex, it's dominance.
Other contributing factors feather loss/damage can be diet, lice/mites, genetics/brittle feathers.

 

[AmyJane725]

No one was saying that!
Molting usually starts at the neck and head, then progresses downward, but not always. You would see new feather growth/pin feathers though.
The back of the black hen's head in the photo - the loss is from mating and/or picking. Same with the "pattern" of loss on the back and tail. She's probably a favorite.
The others have some loss on the wings, likely from from the rooster was placing his feet - they have no choice really, the feet are placed on wings, they grab the back of the neck to hold on - feather damage and some loss is to be expected.
Feathers that are broken/damaged may just now be seen after the rooster is separated, it's not like they are going to mend - as time goes by, the hen preens, takes dust baths and general wear and tear will be seen even without him there.

Yes, hens can be rough with one another, they can pick at each other and you may even have a dominant one that will mount other hens like a rooster - it's not always about sex, it's dominance.
Other contributing factors feather loss/damage can be diet, lice/mites, genetics/brittle feathers.

Ah. I see. Didn't realize the damage to feathers would become more evident with time. I guess it makes sense then that it was the roo. Poor girls. Some hen saddles would probably be a welcome comfort for them.
Is the rooster nice about it at least or is he really rough/mean?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Ah. I see. Didn't realize the damage to feathers would become more evident with time. I guess it makes sense then that it was the roo. Poor girls. Some hen saddles would probably be a welcome comfort for them.
Is the rooster nice about it at least or is he really rough/mean?

Every rooster is different - some can be quite rough on the ladies, while others dote and adore them. Spurs and nails can do damage so keeping those filed and trimmed is sometimes helpful.

Saddles do help some, I have used them, but you do have fabric that moves around on the feathers under the rooster's weight, while they do help, feather loss still happens - they can get broken or rubbed off over time.

 

[AmyJane725]

Every rooster is different - some can be quite rough on the ladies, while others dote and adore them. Spurs and nails can do damage so keeping those filed and trimmed is sometimes helpful.

Saddles do help some, I have used them, but you do have fabric that moves around on the feathers under the rooster's weight, while they do help, feather loss still happens - they can get broken or rubbed off over time.

Will all hens suffer some feather damage from mating? Just unavoidable? Or do some roosters mate very gently and not mess up the feathers? Also, as far as spur removal for the well-being of the hens and for the rooster, is the hot potato method good?

 

[Perris]

this is a guide to management of feather-pecking in free-range flocks, commissioned by DEFRA on the basis of widespread consultation of keepers. Some may find it useful.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...file/69374/pb10596-feather-pecking-050309.pdf

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Will all hens suffer some feather damage from mating? Just unavoidable? Or do some roosters mate very gently and not mess up the feathers? Also, as far as spur removal for the well-being of the hens and for the rooster, is the hot potato method good?

Can't say all will suffer a lot of damage, but generally yes. Now, a lot depends on how often a hen is mated, size of rooster compared to hen, the cooperation of the hen, feather quality (some feathers are more fragile than others), etc. Even a gentle rooster is going to have to hop on and grab hold, so over time there will be a little damage.

Hot potato method removes the outer sheath of the spur, it could still have a sharp point.
Filing the spur down (blunting the end) works. A dremel with a cut off wheel works well to, that's what I have used in the past, taking off the tip and filing it blunt. I don't want the spur to be completely removed, just made blunt so it doesn't dig in. Same with nails, file and round them up so they are not so pointy, so a hen is less likely to get cut.

 

[Ssuzanne425]

What makes you say it's not molting?
That much feather loss looks like a hard molt to me (but I'm very inexperienced, so I was just curious why you think it's not.)

Hi there,
My vet told me that was more akin to bullying and not moulting. It is a little better now because I am putting cream on it, but it is spreading on her neck. I am also super inexperienced at this.

 

[Ssuzanne425]

Thank you for the response! I have only one rooster and he is AGGRESSIVE when he mates. The hens do not seem to like it and run from him. The back area of all the hens are getting damaged. I am at my wits end with him and am going to castrate him to see if it helps. I checked for mites and don't have them - thank goodness. I am putting cream on the bare patches and feathers are starting to grow back. Would you think that the black hen with the bare back was just over mated? She cowers down to the ground when he comes near her.

 

[Ssuzanne425]

this is a guide to management of feather-pecking in free-range flocks, commissioned by DEFRA on the basis of widespread consultation of keepers. Some may find it useful.
https://assets.publishing.service.g...file/69374/pb10596-feather-pecking-050309.pdf

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the response! I have only one rooster and he is AGGRESSIVE when he mates. The hens do not seem to like it and run from him. The back area of all the hens are getting damaged. I am at my wits end with him and am going to castrate him to see if it helps. I checked for mites and don't have them - thank goodness. I am putting cream on the bare patches and feathers are starting to grow back. Would you think that the black hen with the bare back was just over mated? She cowers down to the ground when he comes near her.

How old is your rooster?
Castrating (Caponizing) can be very dangerous on older birds usually it's done around 6-8 weeks of age, I believe.

Yes, the black hen looks overmated. Is she cowering or squatting for him, there's a difference there - most receptive hens will squat with their wings sort of spread to help distribute the weight of the rooster. (some pretty good photos of a hen squatting in the article below).

Now...how is he aggressive when he mates - is he kicking them, chasing, flogging them? Mating can sometimes look a bit unsettling. If he's young, then he may not have a good technique yet. Sometimes they get better with age, sometimes... not LOL

https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-mating-how-does-that-work/