Overworked hens

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SebrightSon

SebrightSon

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6 Years
Joined
Aug 16, 2013
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Location
Missouri
Hello, this is my first post and I have a flock of around 40 with a separate flock of 6 silkies. Almost all of my hens, with the exceptions of a few RIR's, a few Buff Orps, 2 blacks australorps, and 2 spitchzhaubens experience extreme feather loss in the area where our rosters mount them. I only have 3 roosters in my big flock. This doesn't happen at all with my separated flock of 3 silkie hens and 3 roo's, and yes I know that's a bad ratio... Is it the roosters or something else? I know that removing the roosters would help but I don't really want to do that.
 
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That shouldn't be happening if you have a strong flock.
 
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Welcome to BYC! What is your rooster to hen ratio in your big flock? It should be 1 rooster to about 10 hens. You can check them for mites, or they could be moulting. If they are being over bred, there is a couple of options, take the boys out or buy the hens some "hen saddles". There are members of BYC that sell them. Good luck.
 
If your roos have spurs u can trim them back. Its like a big toenail. Make sure u have blood stop powder without anything "Caine" such as lidocaine or banzocaine. can also use silver nitrate sticks or flour but I have found u must apply pressure for a few mins. I only trim the sharp point. Enough to leave a blunt edge. Don't cut all the way down by the leg.
 
Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!
LL
 
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You have a good ratio of hens to roosters in your big flock but, it sounds like the roosters are overbreeding some of your hens. The ones without the feather loss are probably NOT their favorites. You could try separating the baldy hens from the flock with a fence to divide the pen. They can still see each other but, it would give their backs a chance to heal. If they do heal you'll know the roosters are the culprit.

You can get hen saddles(aprons) from BYCers who advertise in "everything else for sale," in the Buy,sell,trade forum. Some hens will not adjust to wearing them
 
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