Rooster is too rough on hens.

[Fishsticks06]

Look to see if your rooster is dancing before he mounts the hen, as dancing roosters won't hurt the hens as much or at all.

He dances.

 

[Fishsticks06]

 

[Fishsticks06]

That's kinda tight.....but if they range most the time that can help a bit.
Pics of coop and run....and the girls feather loss might offer some clues for a solution.

This is probably the closest image I can get without her flying away.

 

[Fishsticks06]

 

[Clearwater Chicken]

is she molting and what does the dancing look like?

 

[Fishsticks06]

is she molting and what does the dancing look like?

Not molting, some hens have gone through this as well.

that’s what his dance looks like.

 

[hayley3]

I thought that behavior was his way of testing his dominance?
My rooster did that to me.

 

[aart]

This is probably the closest image I can get without her flying away.

Are all the birds like that or just a few?
I've had several birds with a bare patch there, I've always attributed it to weak/brittle feathers and/or favorite of cock/erel.
Pretty common I think and may bother the keeper more than the bird.
Also if birds are all ~18 months old, she may be due for a molt.

 

[Fishsticks06]

Are all the birds like that or just a few?
I've had several birds with a bare patch there, I've always attributed it to weak/brittle feathers and/or favorite of cock/erel.
Pretty common I think and may bother the keeper more than the bird.
Also if birds are all ~18 months old, she may be due for a molt.

Select few, and I know some of it isn’t molting. Ones shoulder and saddle had torn feathers, but she’s healing right now. I’m just uncertain if the spur clipping has helped any.

 

[aart]

Ones shoulder and saddle had torn feathers, but she’s healing right now.

The skin was torn too?
Feather don't 'heal' until they molt and grow new ones...
....that's what I meant about 'due for a molt'.

I’m just uncertain if the spur clipping has helped any.

The toe nails cause most the feather damage,
good to keep spurs blunted tho as they can tear open the flesh on the girls sides.