katanajo
In the Brooder
- Oct 25, 2025
- 10
- 8
- 19
Help! 3 of our 4 - 11 month old plymouth rocks have bald butts. We live in the north and one started going bald in Jan after they were stuck in their coop for 2 wks straight due to -1 to -20 degree weather. They have an enclosed greenhouse attached to their coop but they will only go out if it is over 20 degrees. We cleaned their coop multiple times a day, we never miss a day of cleaning. Took them to the vet, poo tested, no parasites, mites or lice. Very healthy. No behavior or eating/drinking issues. Poo came back w e-coli. 2 rounds of anti-biotics and plain greek yogurt. e-coli now gone. Yet 3 of them now have bald butts and the lead hen still has all of hers. We caught them eating their rear feathers but we also caught the lead hen pulling the others out. The weather is above 30 so they are out and about in their fenced yard and greenhouse. That has busted the boredome. Feathers still not growing back. One day we see fluff, next day gone. However, #2 hen has a bright bright red butt. I can't get a pic of it. the others look normal color. She has been soaked daily and hen healer put on every day. Vet has no clue other than this is not molting, no parasites. Often under 1 yr plymouth rocks do not molt and they would not just molt on their rears. They all eat, drink, socialize. Hand fed BSFL. Our girls get Henhouse Reserve w/mix of NatureWise feather fixer 20% protein pellets and Ollie lamb dog food and greek yogurt as a treat couple times a week to boost their protein. The girls have never missed a day of laying since 22-24 weeks. We still get 20-22 eggs a week, all winter long. At this point we are most worried about our girl with the red rear and yet it doesn't seem to bother her at all.
