Balding chicken

[Needbackyardhelp]

Help one of my hens is loosing her feathers I believe she is pulling them out as I see her scratching a lot. On her breast she has a golf ball size bump she has been like this about a month and I’m not sure what to do. This is my first time having a sick chicken.

 

[GodLovesU]

Do you have any aggressive chickens?Is there any reason she would be stressed?What is her diet?I would check her for parasites.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Help one of my hens is loosing her feathers I believe she is pulling them out as I see her scratching a lot. On her breast she has a golf ball size bump she has been like this about a month and I’m not sure what to do. This is my first time having a sick chicken.

The bump is probably her crop. It should empty every morning, then fill up as they eat.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

She isn’t rubbing or pulling them out she is molting. You can see pin feathers growing in. Also the bump is her crop you are only noticing it now because of the lack of feathers. Both are 100% normal.

 

[GodLovesU]

She isn’t rubbing or pulling them out she is molting. You can see pin feathers growing in. Also the bump is her crop you are only noticing it now because of the lack of feathers. Both are 100% normal.

I forgot about molting,that’s probably what it is.

 

[Needbackyardhelp]

Do you have any aggressive chickens?Is there any reason she would be stressed?What is her diet?I would check her for parasites.

There are some that pick at the younger hens but none that are aggressive. She is in our older group still less than a year old. No new stressors I do know that there were rats in the coop that we got rid of she eats a lay crumble from Kellys feed. I couldn’t see any signs of mites or lice on her.

 

[DobieLover]

There are some that pick at the younger hens but none that are aggressive. She is in our older group still less than a year old. No new stressors I do know that there were rats in the coop that we got rid of she eats a lay crumble from Kellys feed. I couldn’t see any signs of mites or lice on her.

She's molting and the lump on the right side of her chest appears to be her normal crop. You can just easily see it now that she is molting. You can check her crop in the morning. It should be flat. And she's not laying eggs. She should not be kept on layer feed when not laying.
To deal with this and other times when a hen is not laying, you can feed a good quality grower feed with 18-20% protein and put out a container or two of oyster shell for free choice feeding. I've been feeding this way for 6.5 years without issue.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

On her breast she has a golf ball size bump she has been like this about a month

I see her scratching a lot

The lump is her crop, you should notice the lump reduce in size overnight if the crop is emptying. Check the crop first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks, it should feel flat.

I agree, she is also molting.