problems with faether on hen and roo?

[springchick91]

for the past few months our roo and our four silver laced whydotts have been having a large amount of missing featehr like to the point of skin showing . we thought maybe the roo was being a lil rough but he has some on the front of him missing. any one have an idea as to what it is?

 

[chicmom]

I had that exact same feather loss in my chickens.....what I did was first, looked for parasites. Found nothing....then, I sat and watched....just observed my chickens in their run and discovered that I have a very mean, nasty New Hampshire Red hen...she would get behind the others, and take a look at their backs, and BAM PECK!

I gave her away right quick, and all is well now.

The power of observation is great! LOL

Sharon

 

[springchick91]

so i should watch and see who might be the colprite behind the attcking

 

[chicmom]

Yep! I'll bet you'll be surprised at what you see! Sometimes you get a bully hen or rooster........I don't know where you're located, but mine were penned up alot this winter because I'm in Ohio, and that's when the pecking occurred....sometimes I think they get a little bit stir crazy too.....but for me, it was just that one mean hen.....she was always quarreling with the rooster, or pecking at somebody....glad she's gone!

Good luck!

 

[Hennyhandler]

It might be the rooster. They can do that when they mate. I have the same on mine. I thought about a bully chicken but I haven't really seen any of that behaivor. I have about two I think that don't have this spot but one is low in the pecking order and stays to herself so I doubt she would be the one. The other could be a possibility but the rooster is fine.
I don't know. i acutally have been thinking of gettting rid of my rooster. I kinda think that might make things better thought it upsets me to do so. i know that he mates them constantly and have seen him grab one by her heard and pull out a feather so... This was when i realized that a spot on the back of some of their heads have started to appear and that would be from him where he holds on with his beak as he mates.

I may have to watch to see if a hen is contributing to this though I doubt it in my situation. You may want to look at your rooster to see if it is him. The bare spot on his front could be where he mates as well. Good luck!!! I know how hard this can be to figure out.

 

[77horses]

I say it looks like the damage of a rooster (although your post says hen AND roo? I don't think one rooster would bother another like they do with hens.

) or they are simply molting, which is completely normal.

 

[springchick91]

the incrdeiable ediable egg its the same type not like a molting but been pulled out . the hens is probly due to mateing so often. we might have to egt ride of him.

 

[Hennyhandler]

I am thinking the same thing with my rooster. I don't think it is a light decision to make but if it is in the best interests for my hens then... I am still thining about it. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

 

[gckiddhouse]

I am with chicmom. I have had terrible problems in my flock. I had bullying and barebacks all over the pen! I separated 2 of my hens that were being picked on and they started growing their feathers back right away. BUT - I decided that another one needed to be separated and when I put her in with the other two, their backs were bare again by morning!! If you don't find the cuprit and get rid of her, then she will teach the others to do the same and they will all be doing it!! It becomes a habit. It may start with one hen, or maybe the rooster, but it is a habit that will spread.

One thing I did was buy saddles for all my hens. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop the habit. It only causes them to pick somewhere else.

BTW - ever heard the term "henpecked"?

 

[springchick91]

ill have to go out and watch them in the yard to see whos doing it.btw here is my babie from last spring one of my silver laced is missing though shes out pecksome scrach somewere.

here is a pic. of my babies from this spring well the ones i have in the house.
this a pic of when i first got them.

heres a pic of them now