Bare, Red Bottoms?

[AccidentalFarm]

Looking at some birds - various breeds (all chickens) - yesterday that were for sale, I noticed almost all of them had very raw looking bottoms. I don't have any adult chickens and never have (my oldest are 7 wks), so I don't have any experience in what their posteriors ought to look like, but can that be right? Do they really have bare bottoms or should there be some feathers there?

Some looked like they had been picked at a little, but most just looked like a raw, irritated red flesh. I did not inspect them way up close. Additionally, the roos didn't seem to be bad-just the hens. They ranged in age from 1-3 yrs old. I did not purchase any because I was not sure if this was a sign of something amiss.

 

[mudhen]

I'm not much help, but no, it doesn't sound right. I would have passed until I heard from someone more experienced here. Poor hens!

 

[MoonGoddess]

From all the pictures I have ever seen, they seem to be fully feathered out there in that area.
Almost to the point where you would have to kinda push the feathers around a little just to be able to see the vent properly.

I'm just guessing here, but I know my first reaction would be that a bare red bottom means something is wrong.

 

[FrozenChicken]

There is nothing wrong physically to birds who have bare bottoms. It is likely an indication they are in confined quarters with a large bird per square yard ratio. Some of my birds experience this being confined for 5 months of the year during winter. When spring comes and they can run about the yard all their feathers return.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

That makes sense. As I recall, the banty's didn't seem to have the same problems as the others. And the living conditions were...not the best, imo.

I was just startled at the 'diaper rash' appearance.

 

[bayouchica]

Could be sign of mites or lice.....

or feather picking

Poor birdies... hate to say but good thing you passed them up.

Miriam

 

[Wes in Tx]

Miriam hit the nail on the head. Bare bottoms in most cases indicate a mite or lice problem. Notice I said in most cases. Other things from pecking to poor diet to broodiness can also be causes of such things.

 

[AccidentalFarm]

How difficult is it to kill off mites or lice? Is it a lengthy treatment?

 

[FrozenChicken]

You get this powder that you mix with your dust bath material. You sprinkle a bit in and it kills the mites. You buy it at your local farm supply store.

 

[Wes in Tx]

AF I use Eprinex on my birds and it takes care of the mites/lice and also worms them at the same time. It is not an all out wormer but it gets the most comman ones.