Chicken bald back

[Emma137]

Hi everyone,

 

We are new to chickens and collected our 4 ex-bats up last saturday. They have been doing really well over the last week but today I noticed that one of them was keeping herself separate from the others when I went out to give them their afternoon corn treat. I gave her some near to where she was stood but she wasnt interested. She is drinking but seems to be more subdued than the others. I also saw her pulling out a few of her chest feathers.

 

When it was dark I went out to lock up the eglu and heard some chicken noises in the run and when I checked there were only 3 in the eglu. I found her sat on the floor behind the water butt and managed to pick her up. She seems bright eyed and quite vocal and rather warm. I gave her a cuddle for a while then put her in the run and she went straight into the eglu with the others.

 

I can tell she's acting differently to the others and different to how she's been earlier this week but I would appreciate anyones advice as to whether this is normal or not and what I can do for her!!

Many thanks in advance

Emma

[mullethunter]

Could it be that she's just struggling to adjust to live out of a cage?

[Cat tails]

First of all: Welcome to the forum and the wonderful (and worrying) world of chickens!

Second of all: there are no silly questions. Believe me, we have all asked ourselves the same questions

 

Just to be sure, I would ring up a vet tomorrow and just ask for advice. Like Mullethunter said: she just might need adjusting, but since you already had them for a week, it might be she is physically not well.

Chickens are prey animals and will go to great lengths hiding their problems.

[Emma137]

Many thanks for your replies! I will keep an eye on her in the morning and will phone the BHWT advice line if she's still acting a bit odd!

[gavclojak]

How is she doing? What area did you pick her up from? I only ask because I volunteer with BHWT and just wondered what team would have picked up your girls

[Luvachicken]

I was wondering how she is doing too.

 

If she is still feeling a bit peaky then you could boost all of them with some Lifeguard poultry tonic in their water.

[Valkyrie]

Nutridrops are good too (although expensive). Hope the little one is better now.

[Emma137]

Hi everyone,

All chickens doing really well now! Topic, the one I was worried about is active & well but unfortunately is bottom of the pecking order & does get told off by the other 3. I make sure there are different feeding areas so she doesn't get left out & she just keeps her distance from the others when needed. They have quite a large area now to play out in & I am just sorting out getting another 4 from our local Bhwt in haslingden at the end of this month!!

[Luvachicken]

So pleased to read they are all doing well

 

I knew it wouldn't take you long to get the morehens disease