Bald Butt!

[Georgiasoutrunning]

Hi, last November I bought four chicken at point of lay (my first ever). I've been very happy with them, however, Gerty a Rhode Rock has a bald butt! I don't remember it being bald when I chose her but it was something I noticed quite quickly in the following weeks. Also the other chickens pecked at it and made her skin quite red, so I sprayed her with a feather picking spray which seemed to stop them. She has never regained any feathers in the 9 months I had her. I have used total mite powder and diatomaceous earth in the dust bath. Apple cider vinegar in the drinking water and a tonic for moulting. She is a free ranger and at the top of the pecking order in the flock. She eats well and is a great forager. Also I suspect that she is laying wrinkly eggs......is this related?

Am I doing something wrong or missing something??

 

[Madhouse Pullet]

Hi and welcome!
hopefully someone with more experience would be able to point you in the right direction

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens she is not top of the peckin order with that butt poor girl do you have blue coat ? it is product to stop feather picking

 

[Georgiasoutrunning]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens she is not top of the peckin order with that butt poor girl do you have blue coat ? it is product to stop feather picking

yes I do use it and think she needs another coat on that skin! Its all worn off!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

lots more

 

[LaFleche]

Also I suspect that she is laying wrinkly eggs......is this related?

Am I doing something wrong or missing something??

Are all her eggs wrinkly? If so she might be suffering from IB Infectious Bronchitis or some other issue of the reproductive system.
Can you share a picture of some of her eggs?

With regard to the feather plucking issue: Is she the only one being plucked? Watch your chickens and try to find out who is plucking.

What exactly do you feed them and how does your coop an run look like, how much space?

 

[Rammy]

Check her for red mites. Normally this is done at night with a flashlight when they roost. If this is the case you need to treat for it.
When this happened in my coop, I treated them with Eprinex on the neck, 1cc for large chickens, 1/2cc for small. You will need to completely clean the coop out and spray it down with pymethrin spray. Someone else may suggest another solution to use but use what you feel comfortable with or can afford.

 

[Georgiasoutrunning]

Are all her eggs wrinkly? If so she might be suffering from IB Infectious Bronchitis or some other issue of the reproductive system.
Can you share a picture of some of her eggs?

With regard to the feather plucking issue: Is she the only one being plucked? Watch your chickens and try to find out who is plucking.

What exactly do you feed them and how does your coop an run look like, how much space?

next time she lays one.....yes

 

[Georgiasoutrunning]

next time she lays one.....yes

they are free range from 6.30 am till 9.00pm right now in a large varied area. I feed them on organic layers pellets. the coop is ok its apparently for 8 hens (I have 6). New coop being made at the moment as im hooked on the chicken thing. I have seen her pulling other chickens feathers around the feeder......she's not the nicest girl around.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Maybe check out this link- Feather pecking