rooster plucking hens

[goodnplenty]

My rooster has plucked the feathers off the backs of all of my four hens--an area 2-3" square. Is there anything I can put on their backs to protect their bare bodies that would also be adversive to my mean rooster? Is there anything else to do short of eating him?

 

[Judy]

Put saddles on them. He may not be plucking the feathers so much as tearing them off during mating. If you are sure he is feather picking, this is usually due to too little protein in the diet or overcorwding, or both. But one roo to 4 hens is likely to cause overmating damage.


You can easily make saddles yourself, with or without sewing, or you can buy them here, in the BST section; they are not expensive.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-blog-ellas-chicken-flock (scroll most of the way down)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/424354/free-chicken-apron-saddle-pattern#post_5318195

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/1/1-6/Joyce_Dixon.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/155123/chicken-saddle-makers-please-help

The feathers will grow back after their next molt.