4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[KateP]

Donna, my pepperpot, has two bald patches on her stomach. I noticed them about three weeks ago and they have got bigger and bigger. Now there is just two big patches of skin without any feathers at all!

 

She doesn't seem to be losing feathers from anywhere else and the skin looks healthy - not red or irritated. Is this just a moult - am I worrying over nothing?

 

I have checked and she doesn't have mites and I use red mite powder every time I clean out the eglu.

 

It's strange though as I haven't found a single feather anywhere!

[Christian]

How old is she Kate?

 

She is probably eating the feathers

[KateP]

She's about one year old.

[Christian]

She is maybe due a moult then. Is there any evidence of the other one pulling feathers from her?

 

Is she spending more time on the nest? (thinking she might be going broody, as they pull chest feathers etc out to get the warm skin closer to the eggs)

 

Maybe up her protein intake to help with the feather re growth/

[KateP]

Thanks Christian.

 

I don't think the other one is pulling her feathers but I will keep an eye on them. I will have to watch her this weekend to see if she if she spends more time in the nesting box - I didn't know that going broody could cause that.

 

I will also buy some tuna - last time I gave them some when Roxanne was moulting they loved it!

[Christian]

Mine love tuna too. Only in spring water. From Waitrose.

[theherd123]

Let it not be said that Christians spolits his chooks!