Barred Rock Bald and Red on Belly and Vent

[k8ecoyle]

Problem:I have a three year old Barred Rock hen that is going bald on her belly, vent, and chest. I have noticed over the last year that when you look at her from the back, the underside of her is reddish and bald. It had always been a smaller (three inch or less) area and she is very healthy, happy, and normal otherwise so I have never worried about it. She recently has been getting more and more bald in the area and it now covers her entire belly, about a seven inch area now. She is still completely happy, always running about eating and drinking, laying occasionally, as normal. The other hens (she is in a flock of five) are not exhibiting these balding symptoms. She is not at the bottom of the pecking order, but more towards the top, so I dont think that she is getting pecked at. The birds have a 12 by 9 foot area to range in, so i dont think its over crowding and boredom induced. I have noticed her picking at the area lately, but I think maybe it is because it is starting to bother her? There are no feathers coming in that I can see, otherwise I would say it was a spring moult. There are also no feathers on the ground or in the coop.....

Her diet: layer feed, scratch grains, BOSS, oyster shell, grass, and occasional table scraps.

Bedding: Straw and pine shavings, new bedding about every 4 months, never used DE

Her poop: pretty normal looking

Laying: occasional, every four days or so

Behavior: normal, very active

Weight: low! she is tiny! and i think she may be losing weight with the feather loss....

Other: She did have a barred rock sister that we had to cull this past winter due to illness. I do not know what was wrong with her, she just stopped eating and drinking one day and got very weak, whatever was going on, I did not want it to catch, and she also was never a good layer...soo....you know....she never had a bald spots though is my point.

If anyone can help that would be really great, if I can't figure it out, I might just have her culled as well. Montana winters are hard and I would rather not see her suffer. I feel like maybe they (those particular BR) just weren't from a good breeder.

THANKS! Katie

 

[mboreham1]

I have no idea hopefully a bump will attract some experts. As for the size, you may find that a "naked" chicken is a lot smaller than we imagine, their feathers give the impression of a much bigger bird as well as us being acustomed to thinking our birds are the same size under their feathers as the meat birds we see at the store.

I know that after mine stand in the pouring rain for hours on end they seem 1/2 the size they were pre rain! So if she is drinking, eating, generally active i am not sure that there is an illness involved. People on here might suggest you cover the bald area in blue kote, stop her pecking at the area, i have heard vicks vapour rub works too. that might give the area some time to have some feathers grow in

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

I wish I had more info for you, but mites might be the issue. Have you checked her for them?

 

[Dora'smom]

I have a couple of birds that have bald areas on their rears and tummy, and I believe it is feather picking. Are you sure that there isn't any picking going on?

 

[katplitt]

I have a barred rock with exactly the same baldness! Its been a while and the bottom feathers are coming back in. She acts normally and the other hens have not gotten. someone suggested that it might be mites, but wouldn't the other get her mites?

 

[Mt Top Chick]

I have a BO that has bald spots on her rear going up both sides. she is also a very happy bird. Dont know what to do. I will take a pic tomorrow and post it, So what do mites look like?
Gina

 

[feathersnuggles]

I have a hen with a bald chest and belly -- I mean the skin is completely bald and red. She was pulling out her own feathers, because she was getting quite broody.

Recently I broke her broodiness and rubbed some bag balm over her bare skin. But, I'm not sure her feathers will grow back because the skin looks very chapped and sort of thick and tough.

 

[ccb]

I discovered my RIR with a bald, wet belly this morning. She is definitely the bottom of the pecking order but it is only her belly that is bald so I don't think she is getting pecked by the others. She spends a lot of time alone, in the coop and is kind of a nervous bird. I just try to give her attention and make sure she is eating well etc., but I want to see if there is something I should do about her belly nakedness.

Would appreciate any ideas.