Chicken bald back

[quickcluck]

Hi Guys..

 

As some of you may know I've had 6 bald bottied girls for ages now.... They are happy and health, laying and I've never seen any pecking/bullying going on!

 

They are bald from the vent to the breast bone and some small patches on the legs..... we have thought about a mini moult but as all 6 are identical we are not sure....

 

OH had a thought that before we get bumper bits maybe they could be allergic to the shredded paper as it's the only thing they all have incommon...

 

Any thoughts?

 

What should we use instead? Straw???

 

Help

Edited February 2, 2009 by Guest

[Electricbarbarella]

I think that would depend on what paper it is. mine have bankj statements and mainly white paper in the nest and have had no problems, newspaper could be the ink or something.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Certainly never heard of that before . I use shredded paper and don't seem to have any problems. I suppose it's worth a try changing the bedding just so you know for sure . I've tried Hemcore before and also Easibed (which is cheaper).

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't recommend straw as an alternative. Even though it looks pretty in the nest box with a clutch of eggs sitting in it, I found that it gets claggy,manky and cold.

 

Reports of hens being allergic to hemcore have been heard on the forum.

 

The last person to mention this changed their hens to Easibed and noticed an improvement.

[quickcluck]

We've used easibed from the beginning, and have had something different for the last 2-3 weeks... buuuuuuuuuuut it's only in the run with they dig over with the earth, not in the nest box...

 

We are stuck between bumper bit, but it's so uniform on all the girls we are not sure it's bullying.... we've never witnessed any.... OH wonders if mice are nicking them from the roosting bars in the night.... or will have to take one to a vet if we can find poultry one near by.....

[fluffyknickers]

Having seen their poor bottys yesterday I hope you get it sorted - a vet visit would be interesting and may just have the answer.

x

[Egluntyne]

Might be some sort of feather/depluming mite perhaps. You probably wouldn't be able to see them with the naked eye.

[quickcluck]

maybe i'll have to look for a poultry vet...... that will be a task!! Not many of those here...

[quickcluck]

Well have made an appointment if we can get through the snow!!! Not a chook specialist but is an old fashion vet who is happy to 'take a look' so will take the worst affected..... It's after their bed time so should just do able to lift one from the cube.....

 

wish me luck....

[sandyhas3chucks]

i suspected an allergy with my bad botty girl. I have been using cut up bed incontinence sheets in the nest box as they snuggle lots and not often roost. I found a friends sgredded paper from documents was sort of course & scratchy( Played havocwith my skin ) someone suggested flax bedding & so far it is good.

[quickcluck]

Well Harriet has been to see Mr Vet!!!

 

He was Lurvley....... and thinks it's the garden Lime we put in the run!

 

So he gave us some cream to put on them, that should be fun

 

Now we will take the top few inches off the run and replace, sans the lime with compost and bedding.....

 

Ta dah.... chickens with feathers

 

Well that's the theory!!!

[poachedegg]

Glad you found a solution (hopefully) .

[abwsco]

Fingers crossed it works I have read elsewhere that garden lime should be watered in.

[fluffyknickers]

Ah ha just about to PM you to hear the result!

 

I really hope it works - be interesting to see. Make sure you take photos of you rubbing cream on their bottoms!

 

Funny how they are all allergic to it and not just the odd one. Who else uses garden lime and do they have bald botty chickens?

 

So pleased you (hopefully) have a result.

 

Michelle x

[quickcluck]

Thanks!!!

 

Only 17 days to go for you!!!!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's curious . I use garden lime in our run and not noticed any allergies or bare tums . I do put it under the Stalosan F and then cover it with a thick layer of Easibed but presumably you do something similar?