Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[SueChick]

I have on/off been trying to understand why my girls have bald bellies (separate issue to the baldness caused recently by lice and self-feather plucking, see my post re:this!). No this is just bald bellies and I know other people have been on here talking about this and suggesting ideas - I myself thought mine were allergic to aubiose - slightly red in the face now I know the answer:

 

A brilliant new vet told me - its called a brood pouch and is normal - its a hormone controlled feather loss and it's so the chooks can receive the chemical signals from the eggs they are laying on/hatching to tell them when it's time to turn them over! Very clever. Apparently it's common for this time of year because it's spring and baby chick time!

 

Apparently the way to tell its the brood pouch and not feather pulling or lice/mites is that it's a perfect circle and smooth skin with no sign of new feathers trying to come through.

 

I am now wondering if other people were unaware of this or do I just need to do a lot more reading about the chooks?!?!

[jackian]

I had not heard of this but one of my girls Eva has not got a bald belly but a bald bum (covered by her feather knickers)....I only knew because I had to bath her once , maybe they are on her belly as well She has had this since we had her 3 months ago .As you say it is perfectly round , not sore , no sign of new feathers at all.

Everytime I have asked people they keep saying "Are you sure it is not feather pulling/moult" It does not bother her at all ..Perhaps this is part of the answer.

[House MD 221B]

Thank you for the information that's really interesting Did not know that but is logical.