Rooster, Bare-Backs and Scratches, Should I Be Worried?

[Chicky Lover]

Hello, BYC! I haven't posted anything in quite a while, being that everything's been okay with my chicks. But recently, I've noticed that my rooster seems to be plucking several feathers from the hens. In total, I have eight chickens, with one rooster and seven hens. I am sure all of the hens have bare-backs, one having feathers plucked from her head (though those are most likely from the other hens). It seems to me that he's breaking some of their primary feathers and giving them a couple of scratches. They are regularly free-ranged, happy, and healthy, for the most part. Overall, my rooster is a good boy. He's kind to the hens, leading them all around the yard and finding delicious bugs for them, but this is my one concern. One, out of the seven hens that I own, had an injury from him. She had a cut on her side, but thankfully that's healed. I don't want this to progress into anything worse, so if anyone has any ideas, I'd more than appreciate them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You could try hen aprons to reduce some of the wear and tear, and/or filing down his spurs and nails so he claws them up less when he climbs on?

 

[aart]

I am sure all of the hens have bare-backs, one having feathers plucked from her head (though those are most likely from the other hens). It seems to me that he's breaking some of their primary feathers and giving them a couple of scratches.

How old are these birds?
Saddle might help protect the bare skin,
some birds just have weak/brittle feathers that are easily broken with treading.

 

[Chicky Lover]

How old are these birds?

Five of my seven hens are a little over a year old now. As for the other two, they'll be a year around June or July.

 

[aart]

Five of my seven hens are a little over a year old now. As for the other two, they'll be a year around June or July.

They may all molt this fall and get a new set of feathers.
Meanwhile, trim the boys nails.
Pics of girls backs and boys feet might help here.