No Rooster, Roughed up feathers.

[Kjm279]

I debated between chicken behaviors and managing your flock, still not sure where this belongs!

I have a hen with broken and roughed up neck & head feathers. No skin injuries, just feathers. Her saddle feathers are also roughed up, but not as bad.

Two of my other hens also have roughed up saddle feathers and the three other hens do not have any feather issues.

We have no rooster and our 6 girls are approx 8-9 months old.

I’m attaching a picture of the one hens neck/head because that’s what I have a photo of. She currently has more missing on her neck but her head feathers are starting to grow back!

Any ideas what could be going on?!

 

[casportpony]

Have you checked for lice?

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I debated between chicken behaviors and managing your flock, still not sure where this belongs!

I have a hen with broken and roughed up neck & head feathers. No skin injuries, just feathers. Her saddle feathers are also roughed up, but not as bad.

Two of my other hens also have roughed up saddle feathers and the three other hens do not have any feather issues.

We have no rooster and our 6 girls are approx 8-9 months old.

I’m attaching a picture of the one hens neck/head because that’s what I have a photo of. She currently has more missing on her neck but her head feathers are starting to grow back!

Any ideas what could be going on?!

Check for lice. I would bet there's some bullying, though.
What is your coop like?

 

[Kjm279]

Check for lice. I would bet there's some bullying, though.
What is your coop like?

Bugs were the first thing I checked for!

The coop is built for 12 hens. It’s pretty large. The run is 16’ x 20’ and they’re let out frequently.

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Bugs were the first thing I checked for!

The coop is built for 12 hens. It’s pretty large. The run is 16’ x 20’ and they’re let out frequently.

That sounds good. So it is not a space issue....hmm.

 

[aart]

Are they sticking their heads thru some fencing to graze on vegetation outside the fence?

 

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Are you CERTAIN that you don't have a roo?