3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[chuckmum6]

One of my girls has just started to get a bald patch on her bum, under the vent. She doesn't appear to have any nasty bugs, I've just had a good look. I suspect that Jen the hen has been plucking her but I haven't seen this, although Jen is quite handy with her beak! The skin seem fine just neatly plucked. The only other possible explanation is when OH was in charge of the hens, he couldn't get her to go in the run when he left for work (spent half an hour chasing the girls around the garden ), so she was shut out of the run for the day. Maybe she could she have got her bum trapped somewhere, who knows, Jen is the main suspect! Any suggestion?

[Olly]

Afraid I think your first guess is right, she's being plucked! It's amazing that you will rarely SEE them doing it ... they wait till you're not watching.

 

Try some distractions in the run, anti-peck spray, or bumper bits (a last resort for most of us, but very effective if all else fails).

[chuckmum6]

Thanks, I think it is Jen, might be a night time activity, the run has lots of stuff to keep them busy, but hay-ho.