Solutions for rooster’s favorite hen...

[chickenbritt5908]

My cuckoo is my rooster’s favorite hen. He’s pretty good with all the girls, but she is pretty much bald. No sores. What can I do to combat this?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My cuckoo is my rooster’s favorite hen. He’s pretty good with all the girls, but she is pretty much bald. No sores. What can I do to combat this?

Remove the rooster.

I'm not being smart - I know of no way to prevent a hen's baldness when a rooster is involved. Over time, as he's mounting her and grabbing onto the head, those tiny little feathers get pulled out. The only way I know to prevent it would be to remove the rooster.

 

[Mrs. K]

The bare part bothers people more than it bothers hens, in my experience. If she is active, eating and not hiding, I would let it go.

Mrs K

 

[Annastin]

The bare part bothers people more than it bothers hens, in my experience. If she is active, eating and not hiding, I would let it go.

Mrs K

I second that

 

[aart]

My cuckoo is my rooster’s favorite hen.

Does he actually mount her more often that the others.....or might she just have weaker/brittle feathers that break more easily?

The bare part bothers people more than it bothers hens, in my experience. If she is active, eating and not hiding, I would let it go.
Mrs K

Ditto Dat^^^

 

[Tre3hugger]

Me and my wife were just discussing this this morning. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[Shadrach]

Take him off his perch tonight and file his spurs to remove any sharp points and edges.
Check his toenails as well and file them round.
While the feather loss looks disturbing as Mrs. K mentions above, it bothers us more than it bothers them. What you do need to be mindful of is any cuts to the back and side of the hen.
Some chickens like more sex than others. You don't incarcerate people for this don't do it to chickens either.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Take him off his perch tonight and file his spurs to remove any sharp points and edges.
Check his toenails as well and file them round.
While the feather loss looks disturbing as Mrs. K mentions above, it bothers us more than it bothers them. What you do need to be mindful of is any cuts to the back and side of the hen.
Some chickens like more sex than others. You don't incarcerate people for this don't do it to chickens either.

Spurs and toenails...I surely hope that's not why she's bald https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/solutions-for-rooster’s-favorite-hen.1354628/

 

[DuckGirl77]

Could it also be that some of the other chickens are picking on her? Her back doesn't look too beat up from what I can see. If so, maybe since they've been cooped up all winter they're picking on each other more?

 

[Ridgerunner]

From the photos it looks like Britt is talking about the back of her head, not her back or sides. When a mating takes place the rooster grabs the back of the hen's head. That's the signal for her to raise her tail out of the way to expose the target. Watch sometimes and you'll see what I'm talking about.

I don't know why her feathers are coming out and the other hens' feathers aren't. I also don't know how to stop it. I'd certainly keep an eye on it. The risk is that when he grabs her he cuts her with his beak. I don't think blucote or something like that would help since it is part of the mating act.