Feather-bare Breastbone

[moraylass]

We've noticed that one of our hens is looking featherbare underneath, with the edges quite red. Otherwise seems fine - eating drinking, laying, ... No sign of being bulling (quite high up the pecking order), and spring seems an odd time to moult. All the others in the flock are fine.

Any ideas gratefully received.

 

[rebrascora]

Are you seeing any feathers in the nesting boxes? It may be that she is plucking herself to feather a nest in preparation for going broody.... it is that time of year! The pluck their breast feathers both to line the nest but more importantly so that they can get skin to egg contact to help incubate the eggs better.