completely bald underside!

[eggshell]

I have noticed one of my hens is totally bald on her underside, is this normal? her feathers are fine everywhere else and she is acting normally too, still laying her usual daily egg, i'm probably freaking out about nothing just wondering why this has happened.can anyone please enlighten me??

 

[emilyweck]

Sounds like you have a feather picker. Can you watch them and see if there is a roo or another hen picking her?

 

[eggshell]

she is one of only three hens and they all leave her alone and she just does her own thing, she's not being pecked at all

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

When mine go broody, they do pick the feathers out on their underside. I think that helps them to keep their eggs warm. I have 5 broodies right now and all of them have some skin showing. But hey, they know what they are doing.

 

[eggshell]

thanks! i feel better that i know its nothing to worry about, but what does broody mean? i havent had my chickens that long and i'm still quite new at all this! forgive my ignorance and thank god for all you out there who know the answers!!!

 

[LynneP]

Yep, I have one too. Watch that hen to make sure she is eating and drinking properly...oh my, BROODIES!

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Broody is when they decide that they want to sit on eggs and attempt to hatch them. Some breeds never go broody and other breeds are broody crazy.

My Blue and Wheaten Ameracanua girls, 2 of the 3 are broody right now. Each sitting on a couple of Eggs
2 Cochin Bantams and 1 Silkie broody right now, sitting on whatever someone lays until I collect
and 1 Banatam Mix that is broody up in the hay loft, her eggs were not fertile. She has been there for almost 2 months, so I finally gave her some fertile eggs so she wills top.

 

[emilyweck]

Quote:
2 MONTHS Broody! Oh that poor thing. And up in the hay loft of all places. Good luck with her!

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Quote:
2 MONTHS Broody! Oh that poor thing. And up in the hay loft of all places. Good luck with her!

She leaves from the floor and flys up to the loft, it is at least 12 ft up. She come down everytime I go into feed. She sits on the freezer (Food storage) and gets her own little pile of feed and cracked corn. She then grabs a quick drink of water and back up she goes. The eggs she is on are fertile and should hatch next week. Of course, I am going to need to get them before she tries to bring them down from the loft. Argh!!