Bright red, bare bottom, why is that?

[suja]

2 of my Rhode Island Red x Barred Rock hens have a bare bottom, that's bright red, just where the hairy, fluffy feathers used to be. It looks like baboon rear! they're fine and healthy and lay well. I've thought of feather picking or mite but it doesn't heal at all. One of them also has a spot just in front of her tail on her back. What can this be?

 

[usschicago1]

It could be picking your right You might have to wait until they molt if they get continually picked on. I would do a real thin layer of petroleum jelly on them to help heal and promote feather growth

 

[chicmom]

It would be either parasites (mites or lice) or molting, or another chicken pecking them........I would catch them and really look down deep into their feathers, near the skin......if you don't see anything crawling around, then it might be molting, or if you have time, really take about 20 minutes to observe them...you might find out you've got a bully hen or rooster who is pulling them out!

Good luck!

Sharon

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

The spot on top of the tail is probably from being bred. Around the vent, my guess is mites.