My rooster is molting and his hen's are pulling his feather's in the crop area out - just saw one grab one and run and pick at it and drop it and go back and pluck at him again. He just stands there and let's her!!!!
So, I caught him and noticed some new feathers - with blood in them - I removed him from the group and he's in isolation until he finishes his molt. I have had this happen to another young rooster - he wasn't molting, the hen was just picking at the feather's on his neck and he just let her?
They have access to layer crumbles - free choice - and are fed a good scratch as a treat each morning. Also, free access to grit.
Is this boredom? They have been kept up most of the winter - so wet and muddy here but they are not crowded. They are bantams and in a stall thats 12' x 12 - there is about 20 of them.
So, I caught him and noticed some new feathers - with blood in them - I removed him from the group and he's in isolation until he finishes his molt. I have had this happen to another young rooster - he wasn't molting, the hen was just picking at the feather's on his neck and he just let her?
Is this boredom? They have been kept up most of the winter - so wet and muddy here but they are not crowded. They are bantams and in a stall thats 12' x 12 - there is about 20 of them.