Bald area around the tail feathers, no signs of Pecking.

[ChrisT6156]

Hi all,

I have a chicken that is constantly bald around the tail feather area. It often looks very red and swollen. There are only three of them and there is an established pecking order. I have had these chickens a while now. I never notice the other two pecking her, and the only time there is any pecking is when they eat in the morning, this is not aggresive pecking either. There are no feathers in the coup and she does not seem to be pecking herself.

They are all laying eggs daily, and there poop is normal.

The skin looks very sore, and there are no signs of mites.

Any ideas?

 

[HEChicken]

I would highly suspect mites based on your description. Mites often only come out at night so inspecting them during the day you won't see them, but if you take them off the roost at night and use a flashlight, you'll find them crawling with them.

 

[dawg53]

Hi all,

I have a chicken that is constantly bald around the tail feather area. It often looks very red and swollen. There are only three of them and there is an established pecking order. I have had these chickens a while now. I never notice the other two pecking her, and the only time there is any pecking is when they eat in the morning, this is not aggresive pecking either. There are no feathers in the coup and she does not seem to be pecking herself.

They are all laying eggs daily, and there poop is normal.

The skin looks very sore, and there are no signs of mites.

Any ideas?

No feathers in the coop/pen = a feather picker is eating the feathers. Increase protein in their feed with gamebird feed for a week. If feathers are still picked and eaten, cull the feather picker.

 

[HEChicken]

No feathers in the coop/pen = a feather picker is eating the feathers. Increase protein in their feed with gamebird feed for a week. If feathers are still picked and eaten, cull the feather picker.

I disagree with this. If she is constantly bald, there are no feathers to pick and also no feathers to lie around in the coop. If it were feather picking, they'd continue to do it until she is bald all over, not just leave one spot bare and then give up.

 

[dawg53]

Quote: OP said there was NO signs of mites, they are laying and pooping normal. If there were mites; there would be pale combs, lethargy, decreased or not laying, and anemia. Also, the other birds would be affected by mites as well. Did the feathers disappear into thin air?

 

[Kyzmette]

Vent gleet?

 

[Kyzmette]

Try checking this out.

http://hoovesandfeathers.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/vent-gleet-clearing-up-messy-vents-in-laying-hens/

 

[dawg53]

Vent Gleet pics: