HELP aggressive chicken

[Dangri]

hi all,

 

I'm really worried today - I picked up Babs for the first time in a couple of weeks and noticed that her belly is completely bald ( She was having her little dust bath and I noticed that I could see a lot of flesh, when I picked her up (she hates being picked up and will only let me do it every so many weeks) she was bald and very very boney/skinny. I tend to feed them their Omlet organic feed every morning mixed with some water (they love getting it on their beaks and nibbling it off each other) and they have their day's supply in their grub. They get treats every so often of corn and grapes - but only a desert spoon full a day. Babs has been laying eggs every day since we've had her (got her on the 28th of June), infact she's the most regular - Ginger only lays when she feels like!! I also let them out to free range every day, they're generally free ranging from about 9am until they put themselves to bed at about 7:30pm.

 

Should I be worried about Bab's bald belly?? I am really worried... almost fretting (

 

Thx

[joza2210]

I am not too sure about the skinniness of here - Could be coccidiosis maybe ?

Is she slouching ?

Pooing blood ?

Not acting herself ?

But she could also just me moulting and you haven't realised that she was so skinny - A lot of my chickens are moulting ...

 

Hope This Helps

Josh

[Burtie14]

If it's any comfort, chickens do often look balder when they dust bath because it makes their feathers clump together. Mine look terrible but once they're shaken it all out, they look fluffier again.

 

I think I remember reading that chickens will sometimes pluck their own chest feathers when they're broody, so that they're closer to the egg. Not something I've experienced so don't quote me though.