[Prod]

I have a Welsummer Cockerel and 6 hens.  He is very 'active' at the moment  All the hens are laying but I have noticed the Copper Marans seems to have lost a little weight and when I examined her tonight she had bald patches about 3cms sq on each side of her stomache under her wings and a couple of scratches.  The feathers at he bottom of her back near her tail are also 'ruffed' and dull. Altough I could not see any lice etc I did dust her just in case.  She is eating and laying and does not seem ill  Could it be the cockerel treading her too much?  Thanks for any advice

[ANHBUC]

I have read that the cockerel can cause damage like that.  Some people use a poultry saddle for the hens during the mating season.

[joyfull]

yes she could be his favourite hen or she may be more submissive to him. As ANHBUC has rightly said look into getting a poultry saddle for her to wear. Also keep a close eye on her sides where his spur can dig in - if she starts bleeding the others will go mad trying to get to the blood. The saddle will stop that.
They are often sold on on-line auction sites 

[Prod]

Thanks for the advice  I have done some more research and am 99% sure it is down to my randy cockerel Thatcher so I have ordered a couple of saddles of that well known online auction site. In the meantime I might separate her off to give a chance to recover!!!!

[ANHBUC]

If you have some sports bandage (the type that sticks to itself, available at Tesco and Morrisons) you can improvise with a folded tea towel held in place with the bandage until the poultry saddles arrive.  Make sure not to have the bandage too tight.