GillC Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 I don't know whether I should worry about this, or if it is just normal. I collected my three ex-bats 12 days ago. I already have 3 hens and have been keeping them apart, newbies in their own eglu and run, the others either free ranging or in their WIR so the newbies can free range a bit. One of the ex-bats is very bare, and I noticed today that her bare skin has become bright red. The exposed skin on one of the others seems to have gone the same way. Should I worry about this? It can't be sunburn - could it just be a reaction to the cold weather? Has anyone else noticed this? Here are two pics. The first one on the day I collected them, and the other today of the same hen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 We've just had another thread along the same lines... try some Johnsons Tea Tree Cream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GillC Posted January 28, 2010 Author Share Posted January 28, 2010 We've just had another thread along the same lines... try some Johnsons Tea Tree Cream. Thanks Clare, I did browse through to see if I could find a thread where somebody had a similar problem - but obviously my searching skills leave something to be desired It's reassuring to find that other ex-batts have the same symptoms. Maybe it's not all that unusual or serious. I'm starting to get feather envy tho' Cottontail (name chosen by daughter in anticipation of luxurious feather growth) is bare from the waist down! She makes other ex-batts seem positively feathery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 I wouldn't worry too much, they usually take a while to feather up, and as they are 'programmed' to lay lots of eggs - their reserves go into that instead of making feathers. Give them lots of protein and a good poultry tonic in their water and they ought to be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 bare chook skin turns red at exposure to the sun (the sun is out there somewhere...) obviously being ex batts they wont have had the sun on their bare bits before its normal and will just be red not sore If it does start to look sore put some of the suggested excellent cream on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarahsausage Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Oh bless them! I've never seen such a bald ex-batt, aah poor girls. They'll look gorgeous when their feathers come through, I've had my two new ex-batts for 5 weeks now and they've already got quite a few new feathers so it won't be long before yours have too. Good luck and hope the redness fades xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted February 5, 2010 Share Posted February 5, 2010 Just caught up with this and the pink may be a good sign . My three "little" girls adopted last March were stark naked and as white as a chicken on a supermarket shelf when they arrived They also had very pale grey/colourless eyes. Over the first couple of weeks, as they benefitted from fresh air, good food and lots of TLC, their bodies pinkened up and their eyes started to darken to an eventual deep amber. Over a few more weeks, they started to get quills and look like little henny-hedgehogs , and by eight weeks out they were pretty much covered, if still a bit moth-eaten. Unless she looks sore or uncomfortable, this may be a good sign that your girl's circulation is improving and she's well on her way to being a very happy hen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GillC Posted February 8, 2010 Author Share Posted February 8, 2010 Thanks for all your encouraging words. Indeed, met up with DancingCloud last weekend and it was great to get advice from such an experienced ex-batt rescuer Feathers are now peeking through, although they're starting on the neck and wings - poor Butterly's bottom looks like it will be the last to get covered However, she seems happy and is definitely top hen amongst the three ex-batts so I'll stick with it. They are such lovely characters, although perhaps their beauty is definitely on the inside rather than the outside. But I don't mind any more. They're my lovelies now Just re-read up the thread and realised a possible name confusion. Finally settled on some names - Flora Margot and Utterly Butterly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Brilliant names. Good to hear that they are feathering up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 we have had some sun, but moor like wind burn this bloomin weather, keep them prorceted from the elements till they get toughened up. I thik our bedding and soil etc probably all irritate their poor wee bare patches, poor loves have had no contact with anything "normal" some take ages to re feather. enjoy them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GillC Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 we have had some sun, but moor like wind burn this bloomin weather, keep them prorceted from the elements till they get toughened up. I thik our bedding and soil etc probably all irritate their poor wee bare patches, poor loves have had no contact with anything "normal" some take ages to re feather. enjoy them You could be right. The little dears were attempting to dust-bathe in a sunny period at the weekend. Great to see them dredging up some normal chicken behaviour from somewhere in their genes, but Oh what a mess. They became total muddie-buddies. Hope their skins get used to the soil soon MUDBATHING MUDDY GIRL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Awww, bless 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 it stil is the best thing to see. bless em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Muddy but happy ! So good to see the real chooks emerge - it never gets old . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 What a cute pic of your muddy little bald girl. I am full of amazement at how soon they revert to "normal" behaviour, when their previous experience has been so limited. Bless their little bald bums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 Awww, great pics. Hows the baldy bottom? My miss Shiny Bumhole has now been renamed. She's now miss fluffy runway. She has a huge strip of fluffy feathers from her undercarriage right up to her tail - they look beautiful! Mine have been 'out' since 7th Jan and are feathering up well now - their skin still looks a little red in parts but doesn't seem to cause any discomfort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GillC Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 Awww, great pics. Hows the baldy bottom? My miss Shiny Bumhole has now been renamed. She's now miss fluffy runway. She has a huge strip of fluffy feathers from her undercarriage right up to her tail - they look beautiful! Mine have been 'out' since 7th Jan and are feathering up well now - their skin still looks a little red in parts but doesn't seem to cause any discomfort. Baldy bottom is actually Miss Mudpie from the 2nd pic We've named her Butterly, although she doesn't look utterly butterly in that photo. I can see lots of quills sprouding down the front of her neck and a few just starting below the skin on her back. Her pink behind is just starting to get a few little fluffs appearing, but really not so's you'd notice unless you were really looking closely Her biggest improvement is around her thighs which are looking much more fluffy, although in the pic they're just covered in mud. We collected ours on 16th Jan, only a week after you, and the others look a little better. Hopefully a week will make all the difference I've just let them roam with the other 3 hens today. They're definitely bottom of the pecking order, but skitter away in a little flock each time one of the others approaches them with menace so I'm hoping it won't get too violent. They've been separated by a plastic mesh fence for 4 weeks so got to know each other. They seem to like the WIR that the others currently live in - I'm hoping to put both eglus in there once the introductions are complete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
