Sooo much pooping

[lindi]

Hi

Have just done a bit of a hen inspection and have found that one (Mavis) has a bald patch on her chest . It is down to the skin but nothing looks hurt.

 

Last week she had a bit of a bald patch on her back which we put down to pecking so Betty, our only one without a bumper bit (as she was the main one being bullied), had one put on as she could be the only culprit.

 

Reading all the stuff about mites and pecking on the FAQ bit of the site the chest doesn't seem to be a common area for loosing feathers. Have dusted with a bit of red mite powder to be on the safe side. She is happy enough in heself, climbing on our knees demanding a piece of orange but not actually liking it when it came to it, coming into the kitchen and drinking from the dog bowl and generally pecking away at any unprotected patio planters!

 

Am I worrying about nothing or is there an explanation?

 

Thanks, Lindi

[Janty]

Has she been broody lately?

Poor Mrs. Beeton, my pekin has had two bad bouts of broodiness in the last six weeks and her front is very bald.

Is your girl hot on her chest at all?

Does she run back to the nest box whenever she gets the opportunity?

These are signs of broodiness.

[Diana1]

All three of mine have bald bellies and I'm treating with red mite powder every two weeks plus I've put it in their dust bath today too. I learnt that red mite powder is only a repellent so I've ordered some ecomite powder from www.solwayfeeders.co.uk which actually kills the redmite.

 

I've also put battles poultry drink in their water which is vitamins to help their appetite and generally give them a boost.

 

Oh and ive ordered the plastic roosting bars too.

 

I haven't seen a red mite, either on the birds or in the eglu.

 

The redmite seems to be making the leg of one of my birds sore with some scales missing. I'm applying vaseline to that.

 

Two were broody for two months and they may have developed the baldness during that period.

 

Hopefully I'm doing all I can to get them laying again.

[lindi]

Thanks for this

 

No she doesn't appearr broody - far happier stalking me in the garden than sitting in the nesting box but will keep a careful eye out.

I will get some of the ecomite powder and give a whirl. I have some of the poultry drink which I gave them when we first suspected red mite so will give another dose of that and I too have ordered plastic bars due to be delivered on Tues. It is just nice to hear that what I am doing is on the right lines.

 

Thanks again, Lindi

[Egluntyne]

Rubbing on the roosting bars is one explanation.

[Diana1]

Speckledy Rose layed an egg today for the first time in three months

 

So all my tender loving care has paid off.

 

Interesting idea about the rubbing on the roosting bars - makes sense

[chickencam]

One of my girls has a bald chest and has had it for a while, no obvious reason. They are all mite free etc. All of mine are pretty tatty at the moment I think they need a good rest from laying and a moult.

[esta]

I dont think it is red mite because you can see them and they are either red or black (red if they sucked blood) they will be on the knooks and cranies of the coop, such as if you lift up a perch etc. my chickens are going bald at the belly a bit but they are happy and content. they might be moulting or they are hot on there belly

[Diana1]

That's comforting to know - that it probably isn't red mite. I haven't seen anything and assumed that they were too small for the naked eye. Perhaps they have hot bellys. Sounds like a new pop group 'The hot belly girls'

 

What could cause the scaley leg? Is treating with vaseline enough?

[esta]

Sounds like a new pop group 'The hot belly girls'

awesome i want there album!!