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

[quickcluck]

We've had a bit of trouble with bald bums and assummed pecking was the cause. We've sprayed EVERYTHINK with ukadex, purpled sprayed the worst victiims and red mited everything just incase...

 

We had regrowth then baldness.... more yukky ukadex.

 

OH is wondering if something (mouse) might be getting into the poo trays of a night while they are roosting and pulling out the feather

 

Is this possible? We've seen no evidence or either pecking or mice, hard to look for mouse poo in a tonne of chook poop

 

Any ideas???

[Gamebird]

They could just be moulting. I know it's a silly time of year to lose feathers on purpose but apparently they do.

 

Mabel, one of my Bluebelles, is losing her knickers and she is definitely not being pecked because she is the boss.

[quickcluck]

are they old enough? They were POL in july when we brought them home....

[Gamebird]

Ah, quite young then.

 

Mabel is about a year old. She's the only one moulting even though I bought all 6 of them at the same time.

 

Oh poo, I was hoping I had solved your problem.

 

I've never heard of mice pulling out feathers but stranger things have happened.

[pistachio]

have you checked for lice?

[quickcluck]

thanks for the power thoughts though game bird.............

 

 

 

I did them with red mite powder a few weeks ago, but could have another go... am putting mite powder in the coop when we clean it too. Also it's only 3 of the girls...... am a bit worried about them

[Egg Lou]

I have a similar situation as my Bluebelle has just lost a large area of her knickers in the last week.. no sign of any redness or pecks just a large bald bit!

 

She has had a problem with being mucky in this area for a long time (had to shower her every few days in the summer) so I think she has just pulled them out herself as no bullying going on at all..

 

I have sprayed with purple spray and she s quite happy but just a bit odd

[quickcluck]

i am worried I have to say, but they are very healthy in themselves...... but it's a mystery... I dont want to put bait out for mice incase the girls get hold of it.

[Gamebird]

Are the lost feathers visible in the coup on the ground etc. or are they being eaten?

 

My Mabel is definitely moulting because there are feathers everywhere.

 

I have read that eating feathers can be a sign of a lack of protein as opposed to actual bullying or pecking.

 

Clutching at straws (or feathers) here but worth a try.

[Abbey Road Girl]

I'm alarmed that Sweetie now has one bare breast (maybe I should rename her Janet Jackson).

 

After reading Barbara's post in the Chicken Health forum, I'm thinking this is a moult, even though I thought and hoped that this wouldn't happen so soon (they were POL in April).

 

I had noticed a couple of weeks ago that Biccie had about a one inch square bald spot below her wattles and now she and the other two are also looking a bit deprived in the knickers department.

 

I have ordered some live mealworms for them (EWWWW) and have given them Poultry Spice in porridge.

 

My son just refilled the large hole they had dug in the centre of the run that is unslabbed, so he may have buried any feathers.

 

Has anyone else had a chicken who moulted in a single breasted fashion?

[Gamebird]

Well, actually on inspection I have a Gingernut Ranger who has a bald chest (although only on careful inspection).

 

Apart from that she is fit and healthy, is not being picked on, there is no blood and is still laying on a daily basis.

 

Chickens, don't they get you worried.

[quickcluck]

much more than I anticipated !!

 

However I wouldn't be without them

 

I looked at mine today and they too are still bald!

[Egluntyne]

They sometimes go bald on their fronts through rubbing on the roosting bars.

 

They also might pluck their own breast feathers out if broody, to line the nest for the chicks, but that is unlikely at this time of year, and there would be other signs anyway.

 

It isn't unusual for them to loose their knickers at this time of year. As long as you have done all the usual checks to rule out beasties, and they are eating and drinking, there is probably nothing to worry about.

 

A bit of extra protein won't go amiss to help them feather up.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Are yours anything like this.

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=35887

It wasn't too angry when I took the photo but it does go very very red and horrid looking.

I too have done all te usual checks. the only thing that helps is one particular nappy rash cream, but it leaves a residue & her pal eats it then lays a softee & this happened 3 times so don't think it was a coincidence so worried about thee chemical I don't use it. the vet gave steroid cream that made it worse

[Abbey Road Girl]

All the info and suggestions are so helpful, emotionally as well as practically. In the Chicken Health forum, someone mentioned using nappy rash cream on sore botties. Sounds worth a try, though I tend to avoid pharmaceutical products with all the strange ingredients.