Baboon Chicken Problem....need advice...pic included!

[Mahonri]

I had one without feathers on her back for almost 6 months. Finally she is growing tail feathers and is almost looking like a normal chicken.

 

[LittleHouseDreams]

Thank you all for your replies. I guess I will wait until their first molt and see what happens then. In response to one question, I am sure it is not sunburn (their coop has a roof over the whole of it) but rather more likely the result of being exposed to our cold temps up here. I hate that I didn't see this potential problem when it seems so obvious. I was just excited that I was able to curb their feather picking of each other that I guess I missed the new problem of bare behinds.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Hey, don't beat yourself up. Curbing feather picking is not the simplest of things to accomplish!

Wonder if a little Neosporin for 2 or 3 days would help clear that redness up. Couldn't hurt.

 

[WriterofWords]

I agree with not culling otherwise healthy birds. If the feathers do not grow back and you are concerned about them maybe you can find someone close to you who could take them who might have a coop they would be more protected in?

 

[verlaj]

Are you sure it's not a broody patch? My barred rocks developed red, bare, "baboon" behinds like what I see in the photo at one time. I described it over the phone to a knowledgeable person and he laughed and said, "It's a broody patch! Don't worry about it!"

 

[Judy]

I thought broody patches were on the chest/lower abdomen, to allow the hen's skin to contact the eggs she is setting???

 

[CityChook]

My 4 girls look exactly the same way. They are also BOs, 1 year old. They pulled out all that beautiful down last February, literally overnight, and it hasn't grown back. Vent to legs, not on the tummy. They must be eating the feathers as the coop has never looked like a pillow explosion.... Skin is red, just like yours, and has been from the beginning. I know it's not sunburn because they stayed in the coop last Feb as we had sub-zero temperatures. They have 12 ft per chicken inside and outside the coop, so crowding isn't the cause. They free range for the entire day several times a week and always on the weekends. They are happy, healthy, laying and enjoying their spoiled princess lifestyle. With bare booties.

I have dusted for mites (both chickens and coop) with ProZap even tho I have never seen a mite (and I've checked at night), sprinkled DE once a month in the DLM shavings, fed kitten food for more protein, give BOSS for treats, offer oyster shell free choice and feed 17% layer crumbs. But still no feathers. When the skin starts looking a little dry and chapped, I rub in a little neosporin and that seems to help it not look quite so "ouchy."

I have resigned myself to having monkey butt chickens. Breaks my heart, but what's a girl gonna do?

So the short answer to my long story is that I don't know WHY our girls like to show off their cheeks, but they do. And you're not alone. Personally, I'd prefer that they had nice downy feathers for the cold weather, but last winter mine were bare and they were fine. I wish I had an answer for you - for ME! - but I don't. If the situation ever changes, I will be the first one to PM you directly.

The lovely Threehorses gave me this advice: feathers that are not pulled completely out, but rather broken off instead, will not grow back until the bird has a complete molt. That makes sense, and for me, that hasn't happened yet. And ddawn (hi!!) and I considered how hard it might be to go tweeze those feathers.... hmmmmm, maybe not.....

Good luck and let's keep in touch.

 

[verlaj]

Quote:
I know - and my broody GLW got bald under her wings, not her fanny, but when I described this condition in my BRs - red, bare bottoms where there is usually a fluffy butt - the poultry vet laughed at me (kindly) and said "broody patch!"

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I know - and my broody GLW got bald under her wings, not her fanny, but when I described this condition in my BRs - red, bare bottoms where there is usually a fluffy butt - the poultry vet laughed at me (kindly) and said "broody patch!"

Well, what do I know? Maybe he's right.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Hi! I looked last night, and there was exactly one broken feather shaft; the rest are GONE. Mine is a brown leghorn from Ideal, which means she has no doubt had molting bred out of her to the extent they could. Don't know why they aren't growing back then, but they're not. She may live her whole life wearing that saddle....