I noticed that one of my Silkies and one of my Cochins had a bald butt. Then a few days later I have noticed that a few more have completly bald butts. What could be causing this? Could it be lice/mites? Is it a molt? Could it be someone thats being a feather plucker? I have seen one that will pluck a feathers if it is sticking up funny. Im still fairly new to chickens, I havn't even had them for a year so I'm not really sure. Thanks
have you looked them over for mites and lice? thats where I'd start. then if they are clean look for the one that doesn't have a bald bottom and thats probably your plucker. get some blue-kote and spray all bare bottoms and see if that makes a difference, if not then remove culprit for a few days and when you reintroduce her to the flock hopefully she'll be lower on the pecking order and won't be pecking no more. If you don't do something it will continue.
My one girl, Jenny, supposedly an Ameraucana going on 2 years (?) also has a bald spot (kind of grayish) on her saddle just before her tail. There is no rooster and she seems to be at the top of the pecking order. I do not ever witness the other grown female pecking at her or Jenny pecking at herself. I have introduced 6 baby brahmas to my grown girls well over a week ago and Jenny made it clear she's the top hen. I found one of her feathers near where the babies sleep. Any ideas as to what may be causing the greyish bald spot? Jenny otherwise seems healthy, delivering large brown eggs, and acts normal. I'm hoping it is not some kind of fungus with the wet weather we have been having lately (I was moving the electrical cord for the brooder so no worries, it's not in pecking range anymore!) Thanks for any suggestions! ~Red
I bet you have a feather plucker, I have the same problem and took enough time to see the little feather plucker in action. The skin seems to turn red when exposed, I feel it may have to do with body temperature, I have seen their skin change color, from red to skin tone before my eyes then back to red.
Ah thank you tammye, Since she didn't seem to have this problem last year, I am wondering if she's more stressed about the babies having been moved in with her than I originally thought...
I am going to try to treat them for lice and mites just to be safe. I will also be on the look out for a potiental feather. I also noticed that some might be starting to molt.Is there Anything I can do to help them?
Make sure they get plenty of protein during molt. The best is BOSS and also meal worms you can also feed high quality cat food about once a week along with a good feed, some people feed Game bird ration during molt because of protein content.
