My Houdan is STILL broody - going on Week #3
But the down & feathers on her belly are growing back so I am hopeful she is coming out of it.
My question concerns 2 of her "sisters " - 1 Delaware & 1 Black Star also picked themselves bare when Misty(Houdan) first went broody.
Before Misty started gluing herself to a nestbox I worried about mites/lice so I inspected each hen throroughly.
Nada
Now - 3 weeks later - Misty is still hogging the nestbox and shrieking at everyone but as long as she gets off to eat & drink and ramble a bit I'm letting her be.
The other 2 are not showing any of the same broody behavior and most of their feathers have grown back, but their bellies are still bald as grocerystore hens.
I keep checking for vermin - which has made me persona non grata with them - but still no sign of any infestation.
Just in case, I swept all old shavings off the floor of the coop, dusted with Sevin and replaced with fresh shavings.
Why the still-nekkid bellies?
But the down & feathers on her belly are growing back so I am hopeful she is coming out of it.
My question concerns 2 of her "sisters " - 1 Delaware & 1 Black Star also picked themselves bare when Misty(Houdan) first went broody.
Before Misty started gluing herself to a nestbox I worried about mites/lice so I inspected each hen throroughly.
Nada
Now - 3 weeks later - Misty is still hogging the nestbox and shrieking at everyone but as long as she gets off to eat & drink and ramble a bit I'm letting her be.
The other 2 are not showing any of the same broody behavior and most of their feathers have grown back, but their bellies are still bald as grocerystore hens.
I keep checking for vermin - which has made me persona non grata with them - but still no sign of any infestation.
Just in case, I swept all old shavings off the floor of the coop, dusted with Sevin and replaced with fresh shavings.
Why the still-nekkid bellies?
