What the heck is this???

[dandrews1971]

The three younger are the ones? Ahhh definitely sounds lime some bullying going on.

 

[Nambroth]

This is almost certainly one or more of your other hens' doing. What can happen is that hens lower on the pecking order, OR hens that one 'bully' hen does not like, will get this treatment. After the feathers are plucked, many chickens develop a taste for pin feathers that grow in to replace the plucked feathers. The pin feathers are full of blood until the feather fully develops, as the blood nourishes and grows the new feather. In this way, it is an ugly cycle... a hen pulls the feathers, and the chicken tries to regrow them, but the other hen(s) pull the new feathers. I have made a fleece 'cape' for my hen that was picked on in this way, to protect her new pinfeathers.

At first I tried putting a saddle on her, but most of these are made with a stiffer fabric because their purpose is to protect the hen's back from rough rooster feet. However, I found this material actually chafed the skin and didn't let new feathers grow well, so I made one out of fleece since it is soft and will not fray.

You must also consider that you have a rooster-hen that is mounting only some of your girls. I don't have a rooster right now and even in my small flock of 7, one of the hens is taking the place of a roo. She has grown tiny spurs, acts like a roo, makes rooster calls, and mounts my other hens. She's 100% hen and is my best layer, but she is very dominant and she's taken the place of a rooster since I don't have one. So, you may also have this situation. It's not too rare in hen-only flocks. This can also be the cause for feather loss on the cushion, especially if a rooster-hen has her favorite hens to mount. I have noticed that my rooster-hen only mounts the three hens that are the lowest on the pecking order.

 

[cirocha]

Fantastic advice. Thanks so much! I'm going to start feeding them hard boiled eggs today for protein and make a cape for the one that is getting bullied. If it doesn't work I'm going to consider rehoming the bully. Thank you!!!

 

[Nambroth]

If it helps, I designed the 'cape' like a hen saddle. Essentially I cut a rectangle of fleece that would fit her properly, and then cut slits for her wings. Polar fleece has some stretch to it, so I put it on her this way instead of using snaps. Never tie anything around a chicken's neck! Sorry if I was misleading with the 'cape' comment.

Similarly to this: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/112898/saddle-patterns-pics-added#post_1315208
Except I have very little material that will drape under her wings, as this seems to irritate them more than anything. These are really inexpensive to make, especially if you have a craft or fabric shop with a remnants bin you can dig through. I think a piece of polar fleece big enough to make one for each of my birds (if necessary) cost around $2.00.

 

[Michael Apple]

Nambroth offered some helpful advice. I think many people overlook supplementation for everyday use, stressful situations, breeding, egg production, and moulting. Poultry Nutri Drench is a product that absorbs fast without digestion, and has essential vitamins, minerals, in addition to methionine and lysine. Red cell is another vitamin-mineral supplement quite popular with those showing and breeding poultry. Another couple good quality supplements are Avian Super Pack and Probios.

Over the years I've realized most feed mills provide just enough nutritional balance in their product, but certain situations and stages of a chicken's life require more.

I know laws sometimes dictate whether or not some folks can have a rooster in their flock. The laws permit loud music and machinery, but get down on the poor rooster. I'm fortunate not to have annoying regulations like that, but also believe a rooster is necessary for the flock. A good rooster keeps order since hens can be quite brutal to each other. A good rooster intervenes when hens get in a peck fight. Certain breeds like Rhode Island Reds can be particularly nasty. Roosters also watch over the flock and alert them to predators. They stimulate egg production too. Just thought I'd throw that out there as something to consider with health, damaged feathers, and bully hens in the flock.

 

[Nambroth]

I can say that my flock's bullying was next to none when I had a good rooster around. I can't wait for my new little roo chick to grow up so that he can kindly keep the order again. I also realize a rooster is not legally allowed or even wanted in many situations, though.

 

[Eggcessive]

Certain breeds like Rhode Island Reds can be particularly nasty. Roosters also watch over the flock and alert them to predators. They stimulate egg production too. Just thought I'd throw that out there as something to consider with health, damaged feathers, and bully hens in the flock.

Hatchery RIR do have bad reputations for being agressive because they are really mixed breed chickens, not really full blooded RIR. I am only speaking about this because true heritage RIR are some of the most sweet, friendly, and almost timid chickens and roosters. I am fortunate to own some of these magnificent dark mahogany brown chickens that are trying to be brought back into popularity by many of us. Many breeders are trying to preserve this rare breed popular back in the early half of the 20th century, and post about them every day on the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread on BYC.

 

[Michael Apple]

Hatchery RIR do have bad reputations for being agressive because they are really mixed breed chickens, not really full blooded RIR. I am only speaking about this because true heritage RIR are some of the most sweet, friendly, and almost timid chickens and roosters. I am fortunate to own some of these magnificent dark mahogany brown chickens that are trying to be brought back into popularity by many of us. Many breeders are trying to preserve this rare breed popular back in the early half of the 20th century, and post about them every day on the Heritage Rhode Island Red thread on BYC.

I often wonder if New Hampshire crossed with RIR is becoming more common, or New Hampshire being sold as RIR. I know feather picking has been associated with too much inbreeding but haven't seen any scientific studies to support that statement. When I was a kid, my dad had a bunch of red hens but do not remember what they were. They were docile and good layers.

 

[Eggcessive]

I often wonder if New Hampshire crossed with RIR is becoming more common, or New Hampshire being sold as RIR. I know feather picking has been associated with too much inbreeding but haven't seen any scientific studies to support that statement. When I was a kid, my dad had a bunch of red hens but do not remember what they were. They were docile and good layers.

The color of the heritage RIR is dark mahogany brown. Most of the hatchery versions are so watered down they don't even resemble the real thing. In post two you can see the true RIR:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site

 

[Michael Apple]

The color of the heritage RIR is dark mahogany brown. Most of the hatchery versions are so watered down they don't even resemble the real thing. In post two you can see the true RIR:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/407294/the-heritage-rhode-island-red-site

Thanks. Yes, closer to the color of darker Buckeyes than New Hampshires. I think the most popular breeds sought from large hatcheries are where quality genetics take a back seat. Some hatcheries are better than others with their quality. I do know one thing. Over the years I've seen who's putting out junk and who isn't with hatcheries, and private breeders I can count on one hand. There are people honestly trying to improve the standard, and they deserve the support even though some of them price chicks much higher. I remember seeing a guy win all these awards with his White Rocks at a poultry show put on by the Pacific Poultry Breeders Association. The birds were very large, clumsy, and their toes were strangely long. Despite my gut feeling about noticing this, I bought a few since I thought winning awards was a proving ground for genetics at the time. Boy was I wrong. Now I know what people, who truly work hard improving certain breeds, mean when they speak of lynching judges.