feather loss around the vent

[chewbaca7]

We are new to raising chickens, and have had 8 hens since chicks last May. They are friendly and egg laying, but they have lost their feathers around their vents---no other places. The area looks red. Poop are fine. We used blue-kote (sp?) , but not much change. We don't see any mites/fleas and have never seen them peck at each other. Any suggestions as to what this is and what we can do? Thanks!

 

[purpletree23]

Check again for lice and mites. The mites poop looks like pepper and you should be able to see it on the chickens skin especially the tush area. Lice would be white clusters at the base of the feather near the skin. Go out to the coop at night with a falshlight and check the roost the chickens are roosting on. You will be able to see the mites. The come out at night to feed.

 

[Baymen Moe]

Unless you can watch them 27/7, pecking can occur without you seeing it. I've had the same problem, bare butts without pests such as mites etc...

If you can, add a flock block to the run or allow some free range time to eliminate boredom.

One other thing...

 

[jerseygirl1]

Mine have lost feathers around their vents and there is nothing wrong with them - my opinion is that it is just normal- the older they get, the more feathers they lose around the vent. THey are 2 years old, eat, poop, have no worms or disease and are very happy.

 

[chewbaca7]

Thanks so much for all your opinions. I will check at night with a flash light, as suggested, but as I mentioned , it doesn't appear to be lice or mites. They are outside daily in an enclosed run. I have shoveled the snow out of the run with each storm (we live in NH) so they can get out. When the snow melts they can free range again. I did buy poultry dust but after reading all the warnings on the package, I'm afraid to use it! I went back to the feed store and bought some "natural" spray to help eliminate parasites. I'll try that. Someone suggested worming them routinely, but on the worming bottle it said that the eggs would not be fit for human consumption for at least 2 weeks. In the spring (it's still not "spring" here---over a foot of snow on the ground) I'll empty out the coop, clean it thoroughly and put down new shavings. I just don't understand the featherless, red bottoms! I do appreciate your help!

 

[Judy]

I would guess that it is still most likely something they are doing to each other that you don't see. Most likely the root cause of it is the need for more space and foraging. Many have found that minimum space requirements often quoted on here are really not enough, especially in the winter. don't recall any complaints like this in flocks that "free range," i.e., have access to forage and wander where they wish. Mine are either free range (acres of weeds, lawn, woods) or stay in their 64' X 64' yard for 15 to 40 chickens, and I have never seen it.

Perhaps reading the linked threads on the FAQ page about feather picking and pecking would be helpful. Good luck.