Chicken with missing breast feathers

[rileysgranny]

She may be pulling them out herself. Just a small patch on her breast, about 2" accross and 3" long. Do you think it's stress, or lack of protein, or something else?

 

[clickie]

Is she broody?, mine started to pull out their featheres and now they are broody.

 

[ChooksChick]

I had 4 of 6 one year old hens do this, but only one went full-on broody.

It seems to be a preliminary behavior.

Anyone know if there's a different reason for this?

 

[rileysgranny]

The only roosters she has been around were 6 RIR reds that were only 14 wks old. I never noticed them mateing, but it could be. She is a little over a year old. I thought the roosters were too young and I didn't want the roosters, so I re-homed them last Sunday. I've not had one go broody before. Guess I'll have to watch for other signs.

 

[ChooksChick]

They don't need to have even MET a rooster to go broody- it's just something that happens.

 

[rileysgranny]

Yea, I guess I knew that. Sometimes my brain doesn't connect with my fingers before I type!
I'll have to keep an eye out for other signs. Thanks for your comments.

 

[rileysgranny]

Still no other signs of being broody. Now there is another hen that looks like she is pulling out her breast feathers. I noticed yesterday that they look like they are broken off a few inches above the skin. I looked for mites and didn't see any. Maybe it is stress related?!?