Pullet missing head feathers

[TaylorGlade]

I apologize if this is the wrong thread, but it didn't seem like an emergency and more of a chicken behavior issue.

I have a few pullets who are missing feathers on the back of their heads. I know about hen saddles for mating, but that only protects their backs and I'm also concerned about Florida heat compounded by chickens wearing. Basically what is a blanket.

They have a 50 x 20 run and two coops (8x10 and 16x12) for 37 chickens - so space isn't an issue. We also have lots of clutter and roosts (the playground, as we call it).

I have attached a photo. Is this mating behavior or is this the pullets bullying one another. I haven't observed any bullying and never observed a cockerel doing this during mating - and it's only two of the girls that seem average in the pecking order. We have been applying vetricyn but is there a way to discourage the behavior?

 

[aart]

37 chickens

How many males?
How old are the pullets, in weeks?
Were the pullets integrated or raised in the flock?

 

[TaylorGlade]

How many males?
How old are the pullets, in weeks?
Were the pullets integrated or raised in the flock?

They were all raised as a flock. 3 Cockerels, 34 pullets. They were hatched July 31 - so 30 weeks

 

[Ridgerunner]

When they mate the male grabs the back of the females head. The purpose if the head grab is to tell the girl to raise her tail out of the way so he can hit the target, her vent. Without the head grab there would be no fertile eggs. Occasionally some feathers can be pulled out. That's what this looks like.

It is possible she could develop enough of a bald spot and he could grab skin and wind up cutting her so it bleeds. If that happens you might need to separate her long enough for the skin to heal, they can become cannibals if they see blood. Usually they do not get injured to where they bleed. Even if they bleed the other chickens usually don't bother them. But it can happen so keep an eye out for it.

Since the head grab is instinctive during mating I don't know of any way to discourage it if you want fertile eggs. Removing the boys is a way to stop it. Often they outgrow this.

 

[TaylorGlade]

When they mate the male grabs the back of the females head. The purpose if the head grab is to tell the girl to raise her tail out of the way so he can hit the target, her vent. Without the head grab there would be no fertile eggs. Occasionally some feathers can be pulled out. That's what this looks like.

It is possible she could develop enough of a bald spot and he could grab skin and wind up cutting her so it bleeds. If that happens you might need to separate her long enough for the skin to heal, they can become cannibals if they see blood. Usually they do not get injured to where they bleed. Even if they bleed the other chickens usually don't bother them. But it can happen so keep an eye out for it.

Since the head grab is instinctive during mating I don't know of any way to discourage it if you want fertile eggs. Removing the boys is a way to stop it. Often they outgrow this.

It's only on two of the girls though. I guess these two are just the boys favorites. Thank you

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's only on two of the girls though.

It often is just one or two.

 

[aart]

It's only on two of the girls though. I guess these two are just the boys favorites.

Could be they just have more fragile feathers than the other birds.

 

[Huntmaster]

It's only on two of the girls though. I guess these two are just the boys favorites. Thank you

Sometimes certain hens can have favorite roo and not be as accepting to others and put up more of a fight with a certain roo.

 

[TaylorGlade]

Sometimes certain hens can have favorite roo and not be as accepting to others and put up more of a fight with a certain roo.

I have seen that. So that probably explains it. We will be removing two of the roos soon, so should see less of a problem

 

[Hocus pocus]

I have one golden comet (Scout) that has this issue. 5 chickens (2 golden comets, 1 sapphire gem, 1 black star) no roosters. The buff Orpington (Queenie) harasses her and sometimes the other comet harasses her, too. I’m not sure what to do about Queenie. Scout digs a nice spot in the mulch and Queenie comes and makes her move. If I give Scout attention or something to eat, Queenie starts pecking her. Scout just kind of moves away, but I wonder if that’s what’s causing The missing feathers behind her comb. The missing feathers are new. Not quite as much as the one in the photo above. All 5 have been raised together and they have quite a bit of room. I take them to other parts of the yard and more mulch piles for awhile 2 or 3 times a day now that the weather is nice. Got them all March, 2023.