Broody hen losing stomach feathers

[PurpleChicken]

Is it normal for a broody hen to lose stomach feathers. She has been broody
for around 10 days now. Today her stomach was completely featherless.
It's not red, just naked.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

They sometimes pull them out to line their nest. My Phoenix did this.

 

[CarriBrown]

She's pulling them out. They do that so they have direct skin contact (for body heat) to the eggs for incubating. I always know when I'm getting a broody because I'll find feathers all over the coop!

Edited to add: Yes, they will also use their feathers for nesting material.

 

[PurpleChicken]

Thanks for the quick replies. I sorta figured it was something like
that. She is fine in every other way. This is our first broody experience.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

Sniff sniff...................smells like birthday cake here to me

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Your cute TX. Me and Drumstick are sitting here eating Oreos. No more big parties
for me now that I'm old.

 

[CarriBrown]

Deleted because I'm a blonde. No offense to the other blondes!

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

heck ,i'm so old i don't even get cookies!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Carrie you got our curiousity up here. What happened?

TXchicknranchers, I'll send you a bag of cookies anytime.

 

[chickenwoods]

Dangit, I wish i had a broody!!,my hens are laying so horrible..at least they could set and give me some young'ns...
A couple of my hens have bald unders,but never seen one of em setting for any length of time....:|