Chicken bald back

[jjiande]

Well, Lottie is now properly moulting. She still looks fairly fluffy but she's losing a lot of feathers every day. She's happy enough in herself and eating and drinking fine.

 

She's still trying to lay - I have had two smallish eggs from her this week - and last night she laid another softie in the coop. I was worried that she hadn't passed the shell (like last time ) but can now see it's stuck to her remaining tail feathers and the area around her vent is quite sticky. I've tried just to pull it off but it's stuck fairly fast, and she's not keen on being handled at the moment so it's awkward to do.

 

I'm assuming trying to wash her is out, because of the moult, so should I persevere with trying to get it off or leave her and hope she manages in a dust bath? I'm worried about creepy crawlies getting interested...

 

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Beantree]

I'd wash it out because of the risk of fly strike Jjiande. I know she is delicate as she is moulting so you will have to be careful. Strange she is trying to lay as well?

[jjiande]

Thanks, Beantree. I will try. She's a Goldline hybrid so I wonder if she's just been bred to be such an egg-producing machine that she keeps on trying regardless . I wish she'd have a break... I was strangely happy having to buy some eggs for the first time in ages last week when she wasn't laying (our other hybrid chicken who isn't moulting seems to have decided not to bother laying either).