Saddles & sore wings

[JudyMcKinn]

I recently acquired 8 RIR hens and a RIR roo given me by a young neighbor who is now raising turkeys commercially, so can't have them on his place. They are about 2 years old now, and he had them in a small room in his barn, maybe 10 ft square, and they couldn't get outside. The hens have all the feathers scratched off their backs, by the overactive rooster. Saddles will cover this, but not their "elbows" or whatever you call the top of the wing, which he also has all the feathers scratched or rubbed off of. How can I protect the wings?? Any ideas? I guess I need to take him out for about 6 months, but I really don't have a handy place to put him, unless I build something else.

 

[ella]

I sewed circles of fleece onto the top of the wing hole openings. They flap around a little but for the most part do protect.

Right now my girls are totally seperate because we're just entering the molting season for them and I want them fully feathered for winter. So I can't tell you if they protect well enough for feathers to grow underneath while they're still with the boys. But I know it protected well enough that the skin underneath is pink instead of red. Worth a try anyway. Good luck!

 

[JudyMcKinn]

I think what I really need to do is get him out of there. Wonder how long it takes for feathers to grow? These hens need their feathers for winter, also.
Do hens grow feathers anytime, or just when they molt, and is there a way to bring them into molt, if that is the only way for them to grow back their feathers?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Ella! You designed sleeves for them! What a great idea!

In parrots, if a feather is pulled out, it can regrow at any time of year. If a feather is broken or cut off, it will only regrow during the next molt.

 

[ella]

Yeah sort of,

they don't go all the way around the wing, they just sit on top.

It's the same for chickens as parrots, and roosters usually break them off so I've not had much luck getting them regrown except during a molt.

There is a way to force them to molt but it's hard on them. They will molt naturally this time of year, in fact they may already be starting. Check under the feathers and look for new ones growing in. How long it takes depends on the individual but I've noticed the colder it is they quicker they grow.

I've had extra roosters staying in garages or the greenhouse and free range during the day or you can set upa small mobile pen pretty easily. They don't need a lot of space to sleep and roosters aren't as messy as hens so hopefully you'll be able to find a place for him for a couple weeks.

 

[JudyMcKinn]

The featherless backs of these RIR hens seem to have been completely pulled (or ripped or kicked) out--no broken ones or stubs--not many, at least. Roo is out in the chicken tractor, and tomorrow I am going to get some BluKote, in case the hens are plucking the pinfeathers. Hopefully they will have some clothes before long.