Bald bellies but don't see signs of lices or mites...help

[ffrisone]

Almost all of my hens have had bald bellies (just below their vents) and a couple have a little balding on the back and front of their necks, for a several weeks now. I have inspected them over and over and have never found any signs of mites or lice. I chalked it up to molting but I'm suspicious. Their combs are very nice, they're eating like crazy, laying very well, active, not listless, not scratching, have good weight, etc. So, I have been just monitoring closely for weeks. Well, this morning, I found one dead in the coop. She had good weight to her and looked pretty healthy to me, except for the same bald belly patch, like the others. Any ideas here? I have scoured all my resources online and not finding much help. I don't want to treat them for anything unnecessarily. Don't know what else to do. Thanks.

 

[coach723]

Can you post some pictures? Ages of birds? Are all laying? How many birds in how much space, coop and run? It sounds like it may be feather picking, and that often happens on the roosts, particularly with bare butts. So space may be an issue. Adding more roosts or changing the spacing and layout may help. Pictures of your set up might be helpful also.

 

[ffrisone]

Can you post some pictures? Ages of birds? Are all laying? How many birds in how much space, coop and run? It sounds like it may be feather picking, and that often happens on the roosts, particularly with bare butts. So space may be an issue. Adding more roosts or changing the spacing and layout may help. Pictures of your set up might be helpful also.

 

[ffrisone]

I've also noticed a few birds sprawling on the ground and pecking at grass. Don't know that I e seen that behavior before.

 

[ffrisone]

I decided to leave this tarp up over the open pen, from winter time. I'm now wondering if they are not getting enough sunlight.

 

[ffrisone]

Another good clear photo of bald belly... some new growth starting.

 

[coach723]

It looks like feather picking to me. Some looks like roo damage from mounting, if you don't have a roo then sometimes a dominant hen will do that in the absence of a boy in the flock. I would see if you can add a roost or two, some birds just demand more space. The more space you can give them the better, more room to get away. Even one dominant bird can make a space too small. I count nine birds (?) and if the coop is the small structure on the right side of the picture, that seems awfully small for 9 standard sized adult birds. Putting some places around the run that they can hide behind (without being cornered) or get up onto and away, can help. Outside roosts/ladders/platforms, big rocks, pallets on their sides, etc. Your nicest looking bird is often the one doing most of the picking. The feathers probably won't grow back in until they molt.