wannabe smallholder Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Hi. My light sussex has begun to lose feathers on her bottom - below the vent, through to between her legs. She is about 6 months old, came into lay last month and appears very well otherwise. Have tried looking for lice but I know they are hard to see and she's not the most obliging of hens but have dusted her liberally several times with DE powder just in case. But wondering if it might be feather pecking/eating by another hen. Although she preens during the day I never see her or others pulling out feathers. And in the morning there are no feathers left in the coop. Have sprayed her with anti-peck spray, she now looks a mess, her lovely white feathers are brown from the spray and her red rump shines like a baboon. Just wondering about your thoughts on what it might be and what I could do. Also FYI she is housed with 3 other girls, similar age, they have a walk in run for when I'm not around and free range in a cordoned off area of the garden for several hours most days. Thanks in advance. Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 It could be that she is pecked by one of the others, or she could just be moulting. One of mine moulted and you wouldn't really have noticed, whereas the other looks as if she's been plucked and has moulted really badly. If it is pecking, anti peck spray and boredom busters are the ideal solutions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe smallholder Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 Thanks luvachicken. Wondered about moult but being her first winter didn't expect it this year amd in such an isolated area of her body. If it is pecking I reckon its happening at night. Lily, my sussex and another one sit on the perch to sleep but the other two like to nestle down directly on the bedding behind the perch. May be that their beaks are at perfect butt pecking height! Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 My Bella is moulting at the moment, and she has lost a lot of her fluffy botty feathers. She's lost them in a stripe, which is a bit odd as it looks like someone has shaved a strip of feathers down from her vent! She has also lost her tail which is not helping the rather straggly look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe smallholder Posted October 21, 2012 Author Share Posted October 21, 2012 Maybe she is moulting then, does look silly doesn't it ?!! But someone must be eating the feathers cos they're nowhere to be seen!! Xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 My girls love eating feathers Especially the soft fluffy ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
