Rooster problem

[LMVB]

I really hope someone can help with this problem. It pertains to our rooster. He's great around us, eats out of your hand, really a sweet, good boy. BUT, when he mounts the hens, and one in particular, he's pulling out their neck feathers. The one that looks the worse has been quarantined because she was taking such a hit. That said, she's the head hen and really stubborn, a mind of her own. He doesn't like her wondering off when we let them in the yard. I think he's hurting her: he drew blood 2 days ago, on her "shoulders", which are raw and naked. I also noticed the feathers on her front neck have been pulled out, so maybe one of the other hens are pecking at her? I suspect when she's roosting at night. Anyway, I've separated her for a few days, and am getting 3 more gals to help "spread the love" around tomorrow, tho they won't be able to immediately go into the larger run and coop. More like in 6 to 8 weeks.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to protect the girls necks? I use hen saddles off and on. Surely, there's some way to protect their necks. Overall, the rooster is not aggressive, just with this one hen. Ideas?

 

[Folly's place]

How old is he, and your hens?
Have you checked everyone for mites and lice, at night with a flashlight? That's possibly part of the problem too.
Consider separating him for a while instead, and see if she heals up, or if you also have a feather picking hen out there. She does need to have no wounds visible to be safe.
You may have two problems, or he's just to aggressive with her, or another hen is harassing her.
Try something, and see if it helps.
Mary

 

[Mtnboomer]

I have not seen feathers pulled out at the shoulders as a result of mating before. Back of the head and saddles are more common areas for this to occur.
As suggested already, remove the rooster temporarily and check the bird and coop for parasites.

 

[LMVB]

As I said, this hen is the head hen, the others are afraid of her, so cannot imagine which one would be pecking at her. But something's obviously happening. As to checking for pests, how does one see them at night? And if I find that's an issue...how to rid them? I was supposed to pick up 3 younger hens today, and they would cause the hen in question to be put back with the flock. I don't think that's a good idea. I'm going to show a photo of her,

 

[Folly's place]

At night you get out there with your headlamp or flashlight and look closely at the skin, around the vent, neck, and under wings. Mites are very tiny but will be moving around, dark colored. Lice are easier to see, and lighter colored. Look them up!
Any tiny moving specks are not good!
She might be going through a nightmare molt; some birds can look like that!
Permethrin spray is best if they do have mites or lice!
Look at every bird!
Chickens need higher protein diets than basic layer to do well when growing feathers. Something like Flock Raiser, for example.
Mary

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

That definitely looks like mating damage. Try getting her a saddle, or separating the rooster or the hen until she grows her feathers back.

 

[LMVB]

I've separated her for about 4 days now. I did check her for parasites yesterday but didn't see anything. I cannot imagine why her and one other hen has lost their shoulder feathers. I understand the ones on the back, and yes, I use hen saddles, but with this hen in particular, I often find it has come off of her. I think I need to order a smaller one for her.
Yesterday, I cleaned out the big coop, where the others are, by removing all the cut straw, blasting all roosts and the floor with a hard jet of water, then used a hand pump with 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water on the roosts, and in the nooks and crannies of the coop. I guess I'm not getting the new hens until I can either figure out the issue(s) or she's recovered.
Someone asked the ages of the roo and this hen. The rooster is about 1-1/2 years old. As for the hen, I don't know. She and her "sister" wandered up our driveway about 15 months ago. I suspect those 2 are 3-4 years old, but not sure, just guessing. Thanks for the info and I welcome any other advice.

 

[The_Patriot5150]

I've separated her for about 4 days now. I did check her for parasites yesterday but didn't see anything. I cannot imagine why her and one other hen has lost their shoulder feathers. I understand the ones on the back, and yes, I use hen saddles, but with this hen in particular, I often find it has come off of her. I think I need to order a smaller one for her.
Yesterday, I cleaned out the big coop, where the others are, by removing all the cut straw, blasting all roosts and the floor with a hard jet of water, then used a hand pump with 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 water on the roosts, and in the nooks and crannies of the coop. I guess I'm not getting the new hens until I can either figure out the issue(s) or she's recovered.
Someone asked the ages of the roo and this hen. The rooster is about 1-1/2 years old. As for the hen, I don't know. She and her "sister" wandered up our driveway about 15 months ago. I suspect those 2 are 3-4 years old, but not sure, just guessing. Thanks for the info and I welcome any other advice.

I had the same problem last year late spring, my rooster would go after 2 particular hens and when he did the feathers came out very easily. I soon came to find out that my 2 hens were trying to molt, or lose feathers to grow new ones, and the rooster jumping on their backs to mate and pulling at their neck feathers is perfectly normal, but he pulled out all the neck feathers so their was nothing to hang onto, which allows more weight to be put onto the back of the hen causing the spurs to be put more in a down position, that is the reason why your hens “shoulders” are bleeding. Also the reason why her back and wings look so red and agitated is because when the rooster jumps on the hen it rubs and doesn’t do well for the skin. The best thing for you to do is isolate the Rooster, not the hens, because it will give the hens time to grom new feathers back in and her “shoulder” cuts will heal, you will need to feed the hens higher protein diet, I would suggest black oil sunflower seeds and maybe cook some of their eggs and feed it back to them, I know it sounds horrible, but it is the best way for the hens to get a great source of protein that is easy to digest. Please take these tips into consideration because I went through the exact same thing and I wouldn’t want your hens getting an infection from their cuts and dying, so please isolate the rooster and feed the hens some protein.

 

[Acre4Me]

How many chickens and how much space?

I’d Pen the male separately for awhile instead. The one may have a harder time reintegrating after separation, whereas the rooster will reintegrate much easier. This could be a molt, but a strange time of year for it to occur. Sometimes the other chickens will pull out and eat the Feathers of another bird. Feathers are essentially protein.

I’d supplement protein at this point. You could feed all-flock, or turkey starter or game bird feed. You could provide dry cat food -but not as sole ration. Canned meats (justkeep sodium low), fish food flakes (as supplement). Mealworms are too high in fat, so don’t rely on those. Add calcium supplement oyster shell. They are growing feathers and need the protein. some breeds just need a higher protein anyway.
Good luck.

 

[aart]

I cannot imagine why her and one other hen has lost their shoulder feathers.

It's from mating.

blasting all roosts and the floor with a hard jet of water

I hope you live somewhere where it's really dry and/or your coop is plastic so it can dry out before the birds have to sleep in it.

How many chickens and how much space?

This^^^ would be good to know.


My Bug Check notes:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008


Oh, and.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!