[Chrisnut]

Hi All......

This chicken keeping is more work than it seems..... dealt successfully with a prolapsed hen last week but now have encountered something quite bizarre..... we had an issue with hens feather pecking the rear of a young POL of which we've dealt with by removing the pecked hen and allowed her feathers to grow in the sanctity of the back garden away from the others, but now we have noticed than the hens are pecking at our cockerel, more specifically the feathers around the side of his head and neck... and he allows them to do it without even flinching....is this normal the hens are a mixture of breeds marans leg bars light sussex warrens black rocks and the cockerel is a huge handsome we believe to be a Cochin... he has some bare patches appearing ??!!?


ADVICE please !!

[lord flynn]

is he moulting still and if so, does he have pin feathers there? one of my hens did this to my cock. get some anti-peck spray on him pronto (any blood then take him out), supplement them with some protein (mealworms/tin of tuna etc) and if they aren't free ranging, give them some more room.

[Cactus Jack]

My hens tend to do this as a show of affection to the cockerel.
Cockerel loves it and the feathers around his neck really shine

[Chrisnut]

Hes not moulting Lord Flyn .... we're not sure of his age but hes not a young bird, he usually commands respect from his girls hence why this seemed so bizarre, will try supplementing their diet with more protein as suggested.. oh and theres no sign of blood on him either.

[lord flynn]

well, thats all good then, anti-peck spray and some protein should sort it.

[chrismahon]

Could be head lice. They are small, solitary and very fast. The hens can see them and try to peck them out, breaking the feathers in the process. We've had this with a few hens and sorted it with a small spray of Frontline. The top hen will also preen the cockerel's head feathers for him after a moult, removing the sheaths. She may not be very skilled at it and we have that problem here at the moment.