Mercedes55 Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 My OH pointed out today that two of our pure breed girls have started to get bald bits on their necks. Both the Salmon Favorelle and Lavender Araucana have got these bald bits and I know they weren't like this before and really not sure what is going on. I have taken a pic of our Favorelle, couldn't get close enough to our Araucana to get a pic. I'm quite worried as one of our ex batts hasn't been well over the last couple of days and now this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 I have this, and somebody else has also posted with the same visual problem. In my case I have one hen pecking the others. I think the feathers around the neck are small and very edible! My pecker is a very good layer, I will try and up her protein in case she's lacking and I'll probably have to get her a few more distractions in the pen but actually I think she is doing it because she is bigger than the others and a bully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 You may have a feather pecker, one of my ex batts pecks feathers out of the other hens, she is now in the sin bin and everyones feathers are starting to grow back. Try watching from a distance and see what they are up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted February 26, 2011 Share Posted February 26, 2011 Is the baldness localised to the front of the neck and under the beak? I had a few hens with this when I used grubs as feeders. Putting their heads inside the grub an trying to get a the food at the bottom of the grubs was rubbing their throats and they lost feathers. It could well be somebody else feather pecking them of course. Spend an hour two with them and you should be able to identify the culprit. Then steps can be taken to detur her. Either way spraying the baldies with anti-peck spray can't hurt. If I suspect a feather plucker within any of my groups I also spay the plucked her with purple spray. This helps identify the guilty party as thy end up with a lurks face/beak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 Yes the baldness is only in that place, in exactly the same place in both girls. I hadn't thought about them rubbing their necks trying to get food, they are eating out of the Omlet feeders, will have to have a look to see if any of them have any rough surfaces. We do have some purple spray so might be a good idea to spray that on both of them while I wait to get some anti pecking spray. I have a feeling that if they are being bullied it is by our Welsummer as she is quite fiesty Okay I need to apologise for blaming my Welsummer. Just went down and put some purple spray on both girls and within 5 mins we had 3 of the ex batts peck at them. OH thinks it's the purple spray attracting them, I am saying no it's because they are bullying them and we just haven't spent enough time down there lately to notice it. It's really upset me as the new girls had such beautiful feathering and I'm worried that unless we dowse the new girls head to toe in anti pecking spray that this is just going to continue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 Violet (who's inn charge) usually pecks (and pulls) at the feathers on the back of the neck. As a results, we've put her in the sin bin for a little while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 27, 2011 Share Posted February 27, 2011 It sounds as though it could be feather pecking. I've just bumpa bitted 2 aracaunas and an ex-bat who had decided to "style" the lovely flowing locks of our cockerel. I tried purple spray and Uukadex, none of which have worked. Early days but the bits seem to be working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted February 27, 2011 Author Share Posted February 27, 2011 It sounds as though it could be feather pecking. I've just bumpa bitted 2 aracaunas and an ex-bat who had decided to "style" the lovely flowing locks of our cockerel. I tried purple spray and Uukadex, none of which have worked. Early days but the bits seem to be working. I hadn't thought about getting bumpa bits, might be worth me thinking about that as I don't want my beautiful girls looking tatty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 If you do, find the thread with the picture of one fitted. It's by far the easiest way to understand how they fit on. And get some circlip pliers - they really do help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 All of our girls have lost loads of feathers, and look really scruffy. I think this is just stress tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
