Bare behind

[ThinkChicken0905]

Hey-
Any ideas why her feathers are bare here and appears swollen?
She’s otherwise acting normal and laying. Pooping normal, eating normal, no change in walk, no loss of feathers anywhere else. No mites we can see, but we put down more DE and lime in case.

 

[Debbie292d]

If you thought it were mites, the DE is a prevention, not a cure. I'd get some permetherin/garden dust and dust them all with it in addition to their coop.

I think that looks more like pecking though. Pecking is usually caused by two main reasons, low protein or overcrowding.

We've got our silkies on an all-flock (20% protein). Then just put a dish of oyster shell out for them as it's lower calcium than layer.

In the coop, do they have 4 square feet each and plenty of room on the perches?