Sunburn?

[michickenwrangler]

Can chickens get sunburn? My boyfriend asked me that this morning and I didn't know. Our hens have more shade than sun actually, but I was just curious anyway.

 

[ozark hen]

My roos had jumped on the backs of several hens so much that the hen's feather's were gone and their backs were bare. YES, they did get sunburned so I made the "saddles" out of cloth for their backs. Now most of them have their back feathers replaced and have ditched the "saddles".

 

[michickenwrangler]

I thought that the feathers would offer protection as fur does on most mammals.

Would white-skinned breeds like Orpingtons be more susceptible than dark-skinned like silkies?

 

[ozark hen]

I would think either one would burn if the feathers were gone but it would be more obvious in white skinned birds.