/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Patch on Khaki Campbell Female

Discussion in 'Ducks' started by maccay2k, Jan 7, 2015.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Jan 7, 2015 #1
    maccay2k

    maccay2k Out Of The Brooder

    30
    3
    36
    Aug 29, 2013
    Hi all,

    My female Khaki has a patch on the side of her head and she has been very lonely lately, wandering off from her family of 3 boys and 2 other girls. Is she being bullied or is she sick? Picture below, please help, shes normally a jolly girl!

    Thanks [​IMG]
     
  3. Jan 7, 2015 #2
    Orca5094

    Orca5094 Chillin' With My Peeps

    1,704
    228
    138
    Jul 26, 2014
    Sweden
    Could be from over-breeding by one of the males. Sometimes females will end up with bald necks from the males pulling feathers out while breeding. I'd keep an eye on them and watch their behavior if you can. You might need to separate her from whoever is doing this (make sure she has at least one friend with her if you separate).

    Your ratio of males to females isn't ideal and could possibly be causing the issue. For every male you should have 2-3 females, otherwise females get over-bred and can be seriously injured. Is re-homing a couple of the males a possibility? Or could you possibly get yourself at least 4 more females?
     
  5. Jan 7, 2015 #3
    tdd2

    tdd2 Chillin' With My Peeps

    222
    39
    98
    Mar 14, 2014
    SEPA, USA
    The mark on hear head could be from being pecked at.

    It's just an educated guess, but IMHO, 3 boys and 3 girls is a tough male/female ratio (ideally, it is better to have a 1 male/3 female ratio) - especially if the boys are fighting over her. Winter is when the males typically pick out their mate for the upcoming mating season. It could also be from the other females establishing a pecking order to court the suitors.

    I'd watch them very closely, and make sure she isn't being the center of the guys' attention. If needed, you could segregate the boys from the girls for a bit and see if things get better.

    Hope that helps.

    Dan
     

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by