Help…

[MamaHutch06]

Does anybody have any idea what is happening to our hens.

 

[FrostRanger]

Do you have a rooster? That looks like potential rooster damage to me

Just to be sure though I would check everyone for mites

 

[Kaw-Liga]

I second this ^^

Likely rooster or mites.

-Actually, upon further inspection given the loss of feathers on heads and necks, have you checked for mites??

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Looks like rooster burn to me

 

[nuthatched]

Once you out rule mites, What's their diet? Space? For how many birds?

 

[redinator]

Do chickens get sunburn? That looks painful.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Do chickens get sunburn? That looks painful.

They do if they’re nekkid.

 

[Debbie292d]

Feather picking is usually due to two main reasons...overcrowding or lack of protein.

Chickens need 4 square feet per bird in the coop, and 15 square feet in a run.

If they're on layer feed, I'd put them all on all-flock, then provide oyster shell in a separate dish.

So that they can heal up, I'd keep them in the shade so they stop burning. You can fashion some type of saddles for them or buy them on eBay or Amazon, etc.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree that it looks like feather picking and rooster damage. Could any of them be molting? What is their exact age? If you have a rooster, I would separate him from the hens. How much room do they have? Do they get out to free range every day? When a few of my hens were in their first year, the young cockerel over mated them. I made some one piece no sew hen saddles for their backs that slid over their wings and held on to protect their backs. It may take until the next big yearly molt for those feathers to come back.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a similar pattern to the polar fleece hen saddles I made, that my bare back hens wore until they molted:
http://www.linnacresfarm.com/2014/04/how-to-make-simple-hen-saddleapron.html?m=1