Exposed skin in winter

[Erin Meta]

Hi all-
My RIR has a bare patch on her back. About mid summer, she stood beneath another hen on her perch and was nailed by some pretty runny poop...I didn't think of intervening to help her clean off at the time.

A couple days later I noticed feathers missing from the RIR's back, in the same area where the poop was. Another week or two later, the bare patch had grown. I took her in and bathed her, but even now she still isn't regrowing the feathers. I started supplementing with mealworms and scrambled eggs 2-3 times a week the closer to winter we got, hoping it would help her regrow feathers before the cold set in. It hasn't work. She continues to lay, but no feathers (or she keeps pulling them out, I don't know).

I watch the flock to see if someone else is plucking her feathers. The RIR is on the bottom of the pecking order, but I've yet to see any of the other birds going after her back. I've cleaned the exposed area and applied petroleum-based antibiotic to the skin to help prevent frostbite and infection. I'm not sure what else to do. The area on her left wing goes back and forth from appearing normal to inflamed (see pictures).

Right now I have all the hens in my breezeway where it stays above freezing for the most part (it's been single digits to -15 and -20 with windchill for the last two weeks or so). The other hens molted late besides, and I didn't want them too exposed.

Anyway. I'm hoping to get a little feedback. I really appreciate anyone's thoughts or advice.

Thank you!
-Erin

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Hi all-
My RIR has a bare patch on her back. About mid summer, she stood beneath another hen on her perch and was nailed by some pretty runny poop...I didn't think of intervening to help her clean off at the time.

A couple days later I noticed feathers missing from the RIR's back, in the same area where the poop was. Another week or two later, the bare patch had grown. I took her in and bathed her, but even now she still isn't regrowing the feathers. I started supplementing with mealworms and scrambled eggs 2-3 times a week the closer to winter we got, hoping it would help her regrow feathers before the cold set in. It hasn't work. She continues to lay, but no feathers (or she keeps pulling them out, I don't know).

I watch the flock to see if someone else is plucking her feathers. The RIR is on the bottom of the pecking order, but I've yet to see any of the other birds going after her back. I've cleaned the exposed area and applied petroleum-based antibiotic to the skin to help prevent frostbite and infection. I'm not sure what else to do. The area on her left wing goes back and forth from appearing normal to inflamed (see pictures).
View attachment 1223398 View attachment 1223399
Right now I have all the hens in my breezeway where it stays above freezing for the most part (it's been single digits to -15 and -20 with windchill for the last two weeks or so). The other hens molted late besides, and I didn't want them too exposed.

Anyway. I'm hoping to get a little feedback. I really appreciate anyone's thoughts or advice.

Thank you!
-Erin

Do you have a rooster

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Hi all-
My RIR has a bare patch on her back. About mid summer, she stood beneath another hen on her perch and was nailed by some pretty runny poop...I didn't think of intervening to help her clean off at the time.

A couple days later I noticed feathers missing from the RIR's back, in the same area where the poop was. Another week or two later, the bare patch had grown. I took her in and bathed her, but even now she still isn't regrowing the feathers. I started supplementing with mealworms and scrambled eggs 2-3 times a week the closer to winter we got, hoping it would help her regrow feathers before the cold set in. It hasn't work. She continues to lay, but no feathers (or she keeps pulling them out, I don't know).

I watch the flock to see if someone else is plucking her feathers. The RIR is on the bottom of the pecking order, but I've yet to see any of the other birds going after her back. I've cleaned the exposed area and applied petroleum-based antibiotic to the skin to help prevent frostbite and infection. I'm not sure what else to do. The area on her left wing goes back and forth from appearing normal to inflamed (see pictures).
View attachment 1223398 View attachment 1223399
Right now I have all the hens in my breezeway where it stays above freezing for the most part (it's been single digits to -15 and -20 with windchill for the last two weeks or so). The other hens molted late besides, and I didn't want them too exposed.

Anyway. I'm hoping to get a little feedback. I really appreciate anyone's thoughts or advice.

Thank you!
-Erin

I also had one of my Orpington hens that looked the same way. Come find out my only barred Rock hen was pulling her feathers out the pecking her raw. Hope this helps. Re: homed the cannibal.

 

[azygous]

This hen has the appearance of pre-molt. I see no pin feathers, so molt is being delayed for some reason. Have you inspected her very closely for mites? The red irritated skin could be a symptom of mites.

Can you get Vetericyn wound care where you are? I advise spraying it on the red, irritated skin. It's great stuff.

She will do just fine in spite of her bare back in cold weather. I've had hens spend the entire winter with bald backs or thread-bare feather covering due to failure to molt on schedule. They all managed to survive down to forty degrees below freezing.

I would say that getting poop-bombed was a coincidence and had nothing to do with the feather loss. You either have a clandestine feather picker or an amorous rooster responsible for your bare-back girl.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

This hen has the appearance of pre-molt. I see no pin feathers, so molt is being delayed for some reason. Have you inspected her very closely for mites? The red irritated skin could be a symptom of mites.

Can you get Vetericyn wound care where you are? I advise spraying it on the red, irritated skin. It's great stuff.

She will do just fine in spite of her bare back in cold weather. I've had hens spend the entire winter with bald backs or thread-bare feather covering due to failure to molt on schedule. They all managed to survive down to forty degrees below freezing.

I would say that getting poop-bombed was a coincidence and had nothing to do with the feather loss. You either have a clandestine feather picker or an amorous rooster responsible for your bare-back girl.

Well said.

 

[Alaskan]

I would look very closely for mites and lice.

I would recommend a chicken saddle... you can buy one from ebay, or various places on line. Some kinds have extra flaps that cover the wing edges instead of only the back.

When I had some hens with bare backs the only thing that helped was saddles for a few months.

 

[Erin Meta]

Do you have a rooster

No roosters, just some lovely ladies

 

[Erin Meta]

I also had one of my Orpington hens that looked the same way. Come find out my only barred Rock hen was pulling her feathers out the pecking her raw. Hope this helps. Re: homed the cannibal.

My barred does peck her away around treats and sometimes water, but they’re gentle pecks if you can call it that. It seemed more territorial/pecking order kind of behavior than outright aggression to me. I haven’t seen her go after the back, but I’ll keep an eye on it.

 

[Erin Meta]

This hen has the appearance of pre-molt. I see no pin feathers, so molt is being delayed for some reason. Have you inspected her very closely for mites? The red irritated skin could be a symptom of mites.

Can you get Vetericyn wound care where you are? I advise spraying it on the red, irritated skin. It's great stuff.

She will do just fine in spite of her bare back in cold weather. I've had hens spend the entire winter with bald backs or thread-bare feather covering due to failure to molt on schedule. They all managed to survive down to forty degrees below freezing.

I would say that getting poop-bombed was a coincidence and had nothing to do with the feather loss. You either have a clandestine feather picker or an amorous rooster responsible for your bare-back girl.

Thank you so so much. No roosters, so it’s got to be the mysterious feather picker. Do you think she could be pulling out her own feathers or is it more likely one of the other hens?

I appreciate the input about the cold, too. They get me sometimes, though- especially when I see the two who began molting late shivering in the run.

I’ve got a good feed store nearby that likely has Vetericyn. I’ll be sure to check for mites in the morning, thank you again.

 

[Erin Meta]

I would look very closely for mites and lice.

I would recommend a chicken saddle... you can buy one from ebay, or various places on line. Some kinds have extra flaps that cover the wing edges instead of only the back.

When I had some hens with bare backs the only thing that helped was saddles for a few months.

Will definitely be looking for mites. And now I am looking forward to looking for chicken saddles, too.