Complete bare patches are more likely the cause of feather picking, rather than over mating. You seem to have a good ratio, but what are the total numbers? Is it two roosters to 22 hens, 10 to 111? Even with a good ratio, you're right that there still could be a few favorites that the majority of the males prefer, however, as I understand it, the dominant male usually has his chosen harem, for which he will allow no other males to breed, unless they get in a quick mating here or there while he's otherwise occupied with mating himself or keeping another male in line. Usually the lesser males are allowed to breed with any of the hens outside of the boss's circle, and they're left to squabble over how they want to divide things up themselves. I don't believe that it really ever resuts in any but the boss actually having their own nicely defined harem. It would be nice if they had what we might think of as the common sense to work out their breeding groups so that everyone has what they need, or for the hens to say enough when necessary, but there's got to be some bigger design as to why they don't. I don't have the answer, maybe the behaviorists do.

Having said all of that, I still think that it's just plain old feather picking. Lots of mating activity can result in poor feather condition, but I've never seen it cause completely bare patches like you describe. If you have a large flock, remember, those unfortunate bottom dwellers in the order get bossed around and picked by everyone above. It's not as bad if you live in a flock of ten and everyone gives you a peck now and then, but imagine 50 flock mates trying to dominate you.

Chickens are so interesting to sit and watch their behaviors. They're not all that impossible to read with a little study of animal behavior, but if anyone has gotten turkeys figured out, I'd sure like to know about it. I don't know if I'll ever understand them.

Roberta, I am having similar problems, just when I think I've figured it out I've been proved wrong.

Patrick, you bring out a good point about the large number and the poor girls at the bottom of the order.

I had this problem last year on and off, now it's on again and I am wondering if it could be spring fever (increased sunlight) adding to this issue. We were adding grower pellets to the layer to up the protein. Now we are going to try switching to pure grower/game-bird feed to see if it has any effect. We only have 15 birds at this time and two joined coops = 16x8'. I don't get it, plenty of room, lots of fresh food and water. The one thing that gives me hope is we had this problem before and it was fixed.

Last year I tried a natural "pick no more" goop that I put on the bare spots, it may be time to break out that stuff again (it did seem to work), it's just labor intensive to keep applying it.

One poor girl lost all the feathers on the top of her head, I removed her from the group when I found her bloody. She stopped laying and is hanging out w/a couple of her friends, recovering nicely. I let her out yesterday w/the other group to see how she's do and in a matter of seconds she was bleeding again. This is a frustrating problem for the "pet mentality" poultry folks like myself.

-Sheila

I have 6 roosters and 70 hens. The bare patches are all in the same place --- lower back about the size of a quarter. When would they feather pick? I have never seen it happen but maybe they do it during the night when they are cooped up.

Also, the girls this is happening to are definitely not at the bottom of the pecking order. They follow the 'top roo' around constantly. Would moulting look like that?

Roberta, the ones following the roo around are not nessasarily at the top of the order, one of mine that is worn is definitely near the bottom of the order and shadows my roo all day.

Last year I went so far to put a chicken cam in the coop to catch the offenders, it was tough catching them in the act, I think it does happen more when they are cooped.

How are the spurs on the roo's? it could be like you think, overworked, I think we were just throwing you out another possiblility.

-Sheila

ps. moulting sounds a bit early to me since your birds are just a year right? when mine moulted last summer they looked like a total wreck! not just in one spot.

Thanks Sheila. I hope it isn't bothering them whatever the reason for it is. We found a home for one of the roosters (our local Freecycle) so after this weekend, our ratio will increase. I would really be happy with just two roosters but they are hard to find homes for.

Hi Roberta,
yes that is good news! roo's are tough to find homes for, I had some success w/craigslist, I also put an add on heritage breed conservancy's website. The most frustrating part of the problem was the timing. It seemed like no one wanted the roo's until a month later after they were all processed I was contacted by 3 different people wanting them :(

What breed of chickens do you have? Are you going to hatch any of your own eggs?

-Sheila

Here is a link that might be useful: Heritage Breeds website

I agree it is probably a feather picking problem. It seems to me that it occurs mainly when the coop is closed for the night and the birds are going to roost and/or early in the morning when they are waiting to be let out.

The first year I had chickens I had a major problem with this that started suddenly when I used a red heat lamp 24/7 during a bitterly cold spell. I thought it was the roosters and penned them separately, but the problem continued. I started watching the hens when they were going to roost and when I identified the worst offender, I made chicken soup. It did not end the problem, but it helped some... perhaps because it shook up the pecking order. Once spring came the problem eased but it took a whole season of free ranging and a moult to end it. And even then there was one hen who was usually half naked.

Sheila, care to share your recipe for the homemade anti-pick goop?

Sheila, we have Americanas, New Hampshire Reds, Black Astrolorps and two Barred Rocks. I would love to hatch some of our own, but I realize we really aren't 'farmers' and I just have a big problem culling any of them.

The meat birds were easy because we only raised them for 8 weeks and they were totally disgusting anyway!!!

Hey Maggie :)
I wish it were my own concoction but alas, I ordered it online! (link below).

Roberta, sounds like a pretty group! if only you could find a source to take the roo's...... there is a down side to hatching.

I have a friend who agreed to take all my roo's this year, she can eat them or keep them but the silkies she will keep! she loves roosters (I am lucky to have such a friend).

-Sheila

Here is a link that might be useful: Pick no more lotion

I have the same problem here. A couple of my hens have bare spots on their backs... but I haven't ever seen anyone pecking at them.

hi roberta,
you could try putting used motor oil on the bare spots and the feathers around it. if it is a picking problem this should stop it. it has been used with success in many cases of feather picking.
on the other hand, if it is overuse, it might make the rooster slide right off.(lol)

I saw in a chicken magazine that you can make a "saddle" by putting duct tape over the area. I think that one piece of tape has to go all the way around. It doesn't stick to the skin because they dust bathe, and the girls will wiggle out of them eventually.

It certainly sounds weird, but the magazine people were pretty sure it would work.

I think it was Backyard Poultry or Poultry Fancier where I read about chicken saddles. I thought I would try it if I get any "baldies" out of this batch.

Kitty