Rooster abused.

[Maxschickens]

I noticed recently my blue, birchen, maran rooster his tail feathers and leg and feet feathers are missing or some on his legs feathers are broke off and I assumed he did it from stress for some reason but I went to put them to bed tonight and I watched them for a while and I saw a hen pluck one of his tail feathers in front of me and then she bit at his foot. The hens that are doing this are golden comets and they really like to fight my sapphire gem hens and I had to seperate them because they fight so much especially when they go to bed but I was shocked they are doing this to the rooster but only at night in the coop, outside of the coop he's in charge.

 

[azygous]

Yes, this happens with roosters. Hens love to pluck their feathers. But some of this may be attributed to molt if the rooster is over a year old. Pin feathers coming in, especially on feet, are rich in blood and hens quickly discover this juicy snack.

My roosters are going through this right now, and I have them segregated from the hens so they won't be plucked before their new feathers even grow in.