Can anyone solve a chicken BALD CHICKEN BUTT PROBLEM?

[GretaGarboFirst]

My 5 chickens are about a year and one half old. About 6 months after they started laying 4 or the 5 chickens became bald in
their butt area. The bald spot is about the size of the bottom of a tea cup and is round in shape. The chicken at the bottom of the pecking order does not go bald but the others do. They are health and live well. I do not see mites or lice on them. I am wondering if they rub up against their pine shaving nesting boxes and create this. Or maybe the roosting pole.......but why not the bottom of the pecking order? She roosts with them.

 

[sophiaw00]

Do you have a rooster?

 

[GretaGarboFirst]

No , I do not have a rooster.

 

[sophiaw00]

Okay just asking because if you had a rooster, maybe he was overmating them. I have no clue what this could be. Maybe someone with more expirience will know. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[lizro]

Hi. I have the same problem with one of mine. I know she lays a big egg every day. I read that they stop laying when they refeather because the protein is needed for the new feathers so I wondered if she needed more protein in her diet so I am giving a little tinned in water sardine. I am very new to keeping hens but this is what I am trying. Like your girl she has no lice or mites and has been wormed and we have no cockerel.Be interesting to see if anyone else has any advice.

 

[GretaGarboFirst]

Well, that is interesting.. My chickens have not been wormed! I wonder if that could be the source of the baldness.

I don't know much about adding protein. They have feed and vegetables so I think their diet is o.k.

I wonder if worms can cause baldness..Although, one of the five does not have the baldness.

Thanks for your input. This has been a concern for me for a while.

 

[MeepBeep]

I wonder if worms can cause baldness..Although, one of the five does not have the baldness. 

Worms, lice and mites will tickle them and make them itch, and they will pluck their own feathers tying to stop the tickle and itch... Or another bird will see the bugs and go in for a treat plucking the feathers in the process... some chickens just like eating feathers as they are full of protein, and in some cases it's just establishing pecking order...

 

[GretaGarboFirst]

I don't think it is a pecking order issue because the lowest chicken in the pecking order does not have the baldness problem. She is the one with all her feathers in tact. I do not see the chickens scratching themselves or pecking at each other at all. I watch them a lot and see no behavior that would indicate feather picking. Thanks so much for your input. *****I can also add that if the feathers start to grow and things seem to be mending all of a sudden first thing in the morning I will notice more redness and balding.**** Does that resinate to anyone?

 

[FridayYet]

I had the same problem a while ago, it was feather picking while on the roost. I thought it was mites, lice, anything - but I finally caught the culprit. She loves to eat fluffy feathers. Never did it during the day though. She used to go for the vent area, and pick the others bald. Now she goes for face/beards/hackles. Of course her feathers are gorgeous, everyone else is ratty now. Guess I need to get another bumpa bit on her.

One of the hens escaped the picking because she roosted in a different area.

It might be something else, but night-time picking is definitely a possibility.

 

[lizro]

Hi FridayYet - how did you find out which hen was pecking the feathers? My poor hen looked quite pecked this morning so I think you have the answer to my hens problem - and she is the bottom of the pecking order - the others are really mean but no blood drawn! Is the solution to put the bumpa bit on the others?