knackered Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 This morning i went to feed my hybrids and noticed that 2 of them are bald underneath, sort of on their tummies but closer to their vents although there are feathers between their vent and their bald patch. Otherwise they are very healthy, laying eggs, red combs etc I thought it was moulting but then i read that it starts with their heads and follows a distinct pattern but mine only have bald tummies - it doesn't look pecked, just clean pink flesh. I've looked for lice round the feathers and i can't see anything -could it be mites or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 could be going broody - they pluck out their tummy feathers to keep the eggs nice and warm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knackered Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 i've checked all 3 that will let me pick them up and they are all a bit bald, would they all being going broody at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 um, I dont know if they would all go broody at the same time! it's possible, I've had 2 trying that trick at the same time. are they still laying? if not, you could shut them out of their house during the day and see if that helps. otherwise the broody coop is the best route, but you'd have to do them one at a time - 48 hours in the 'cooler' with food and water and no opportunity to get nice and warm with a cosy egg underneath usually does the trick. we use an old puppy crate set on bricks so the air can get round beneath the bird and that helps lower the body temperature. I hate doing it in the winter though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knackered Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 they are still laying and they don't seem to be in the nesting box otherwise, just hanging out in their WIR - i guess i'll watch and see.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Sounds like a classic moult I currently have one black rock with a bald bottom and no neck feathers, one ranger with no neck feathers,a legbar with no neck feathers and a bald back, I love it when they all moult together and people see them and say ooh what have you done top your chickens are you plucking them ready for the oven..............OH how I laugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 Hi, I have the same question! I thought Dotty was moulting and feeling under the weather as it is her first winter moult. Anyway, she is also staying in the nest box all day so I suspect broody as she pecks me when I make her stand up and then looks fine, but makes trilling and clucking noises to the others... also no eggs for 4 days. Very red in face - not pale. I think flubenvet worming is due in Dec, but might do it earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted October 20, 2010 Share Posted October 20, 2010 batcatz classic broody behaviour get her cooled down asap so she snaps out of it there's loads of advice on here regarding broody chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
batcatz Posted October 21, 2010 Share Posted October 21, 2010 Thanks, I read the broody sticky on here which made me suspect. It's a relief as I thought she was ill at first. I turfed her out of the eglu this morning and have kept the egg hatch door off. She's been in the run either dustbathing or making another nest. Oops better check. I'm laughing a bit as I thought the silkie would go broody and not the speckledy and never expected it would happen in winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
