Pullets with missing feathers

[redinator]

Over the last week or two breeding has ramped up. Now I have 2 pullets (of 19) with missing feathers from overbreeding by the males (4). I pulled them from their perches last night and put them in a seperate run. I plan to leave them together in the seperate run for at least a week to give them a break from the boys. I'll put saddles on them before letting them back out with the flock, but is there anything I can put on the bare spots to help with healing; or anything I can/should add to their feed in the meantime to help with feather growth? I don't see any redness or swelling just bare patches near their tails.

 

[LoveMyPeepers]

I've heard of "chicken saddles" to prevent the hens from getting hurt when being mounted.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You have a ratio of about 1 male to every 5 females. Thst's too many males. How old are the males? If under a year old they are cockerels, not roosters. If 4 to 6 months they are crazy with testosterone, a bad situation for the pullets. Are the pullets laying? If not, they are not ready for breeding and the males should go in a bachelor pen until the females are laying and then you should choose one or at most two gentlemanly males to join your females, not four.

 

[redinator]

You have a ratio of about 1 male to every 5 females. Thst's too many males. How old are the males? If under a year old they are cockerels, not roosters. If 4 to 6 months they are crazy with testosterone, a bad situation for the pullets. Are the pullets laying? If not, they are not ready for breeding and the males should go in a bachelor pen until the females are laying and then you should choose one or at most two gentlemanly males to join your females, not four.

I thought I had 3/20 until a few days ago. One male snuck up on me. When the last batch reached 10 weeks I rehomed the obvious males and quit paying attention , but yeah I'll be setting up a pen for the males and rotate through them as needed. There hasn't been much breeding going until the last couple of weeks, now they're out of control.

ETA: Most of the pullets have been old enough to lay since Oct/Nov, but just started laying as the days are getting a bit longer.

All the chickens are between 6-11 months.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I get it, life happens. Cockerels too!