Bald patch on my hens.

[EdPicaroon C Boodle]

Hi all

Whilst handling my hens recently, i noticed that one of them had two small bold patches, on her chest.
The area around was also fairly red.
since we are rapidly approaching the Summer months i presumed it was her moulting, but i just wanted to double check it wasn't anything else.
Thanks very much for your help and advice in advance.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

The only things I would check out in case it's not moulting, are lice or red mite or another hen pecking her .

[EdPicaroon C Boodle]

None of the other girls are pecking her and i can't seam to find any lice, so she probably is moulting.

Thanks for your help.

[Redwing]

Hens tend to moult in Autumn so I dont think its that

I'd say she is being pecked, or if you have a wire run it could be that she is pushing up against the wire for treats and has made a sore patch

[Ain't Nobody Here]

One of mine is moulting enthusiastically at the moment so it's not impossible (wouldn't explain the red patches though ).

[EdPicaroon C Boodle]

Thanks for the reply ,
We have a fairly large run with a chicken wire mesh around, perhaps you could be right about her being nudged against the side of the fence.
As far as pecking is concerned, i don't think that is the case..... Or at least i have never seen it happen, the two patches on her chest seem fairly small and i can see new feathers starting to poke out.

Her skin really red, but still i am slightly worried,

thanks again for all the help.

Ed

[Eggstatic!]

My chickens are all moulting and quite a few of them have quite red skin underneath, i just assumed thats what happens with some.

[Mollie333]

Its on her chest- you say?
Well my Pekin, effy started off with 2 small bald patches, now she is compleatly bald underneath. Because she doesnt use Roosting bars, and nests instead, and is also very broody, which has made it red..

[EdPicaroon C Boodle]

Hi Molly
I occasionally check the hens while they sleep, however Steve (the one with the bold chest) never seems to be rossting, just sitting on the straw looking fast asleep.

How does not roasting affect their feathers like that.

Any way, thanks for the help

Ed

[Mollie333]

Simiular for when they are broody.. they pluck out there feathers to line a nest.
Now Ethel is broody, but she also chooses to nestle rather than perch.. They loose the feathers
because there constantly lying down for hours.

[EdPicaroon C Boodle]

Hi again Molly,

Yes i have noticed a few more feathers lining their nesting box than usual, that could explain.

And i suppose it might leave the skin fairly irritated when they pluck them out.

Thanks

Ed

[Mollie333]

My bald girl is currently huffing a puffing running around the garden.. I've locked her out.. She isn't happy.

[EdPicaroon C Boodle]

Ahhh poor chuck

[Groovychook]

One of my girls has a very bald undercarriage & chest- it looks quite red & sore too.

I don't think she's moulting, although I've found the odd feather in the run & I'd be surprised if she's being plucked by one of the other girls as she seems to be the dominant chook . She's just been given a bath & I checked for any mites or lice- couldn't find any trace...

I wondered if she might be allergic to the aubiose in the nest box & run

[Mollie333]

Hello Groovychuck,
Effy is bald underneath and looks sore, we also cant find traces. The best thing to do is to look (when there roosting) at where she is, because they need to perch whilst they sleep, not nestle (which causes featherloss).Then if she is in the nesting box or coop and not pearching, put her on the perch and put something in the place where she was lying (like a brick, or something to stop her from going in there)..