Neck feathers broken off

[sonjap]

Hi all, I have 6 hens and last month noticed one of them had a bunch of feathers broken off near the skin on the back of her neck. I do have a rooster but this hen doesn't let him mate with her. Even if she did, none of my other hens have any broken feathers. (He's quite a gentleman.)
I've been searching online and have read about mites but I haven't seen any on her and have checked her in other places for them. At first I thought maybe a dog or other predator had gotten a hold of her but she got away. But today checking her again there are even more broken around the sides of her neck now. I don't see any signs of molting in her and there are no pin feathers in that area.
Here is a pic.

Any thoughts?

 

[Peeps61]

Humm.... I had an Orphington hen with a spot like that, but it was a predator that made a grab and got a mouth full of feathers. She grew them back in and had no other problems with it. Maybe that's what happened to yours and the other hens are picking at her?

 

[Mrs. K]

It might be a fence. Once I had a bird stick her head through, panicked and then when she pulled back, she tore of feathers.

Mrs K

 

[janiebob]

Hello. Your hens neck looks like my hens neck. I found my hen with the broken neck feathers roosting (only her head) under my Easter Egger. She had her head sticking straight under her and right out in front of the Easter Eggers chest. Silliest thing I've ever seen. Now I don't know if my EE is pecking her or shes just breaking feathers as she retracts her head but I sure wish she'd stop. Can't be comfortable for either one of them.

 

[CrazyTalk]

Hi all, I have 6 hens and last month noticed one of them had a bunch of feathers broken off near the skin on the back of her neck. I do have a rooster but this hen doesn't let him mate with her. Even if she did, none of my other hens have any broken feathers. (He's quite a gentleman.)

I would guess these two things are related - he's trying to mate her and shes resisting and getting feathers broken off.

 

[spies04]

I have had this same problem with some of my hens and found it was not my rooster but rather some of my cranky old ladies showing dominance to the younger hens. I found that when they were in the coop together and the younger hens would come over to the treats with the old ladies, there would be some pulling of the feathers and pecking to push them away until the seniors were done. Lately, I have found that now the younger ones are getting older, it is not happening as much because they are standing their ground.
So, it could also be some of your hens - my old rooster just ain't the man he used to be

and he just wants to be left alone so I know it is not him.

I also do not see this as much when the hens are outside more in the nicer weather.

Good luck!

 

[Peeps61]

I had an Orphington with a spot like that from a predator grab. She got away and lost some feathers in the process.