New chicken owner here! One of my hens has two possible issues that I would like advice on if I can do anything about.
The hen (Wendy) is in a flock of four, they were all born May 2024, and she is the only hen exhibiting issues. She is the best egg layer of them all, laying a few eggs a week even in the winter. I live in MN where winters are cold!
Wendy has a bald patch on her butt. I noticed it two weeks ago. It looks like the skin has cracked once or twice, probably from stair and cold? A could feathers are trying to grow back. It seems an odd place if she's been pecked (which I haven't seen), so I've been feeding her some egg a couple times a week for extra nutrients. I don't want her to lose more feathers this winter... Anything I can do?
Her front also looks like it has a lump on the right side, probably her crop, that I just noticed today. Maybe I'm just not observant - is this typical after hens eat?
The hen (Wendy) is in a flock of four, they were all born May 2024, and she is the only hen exhibiting issues. She is the best egg layer of them all, laying a few eggs a week even in the winter. I live in MN where winters are cold!
Wendy has a bald patch on her butt. I noticed it two weeks ago. It looks like the skin has cracked once or twice, probably from stair and cold? A could feathers are trying to grow back. It seems an odd place if she's been pecked (which I haven't seen), so I've been feeding her some egg a couple times a week for extra nutrients. I don't want her to lose more feathers this winter... Anything I can do?
Her front also looks like it has a lump on the right side, probably her crop, that I just noticed today. Maybe I'm just not observant - is this typical after hens eat?
