Feather loss on chest

[Happy Chooks]

My RIR has a bare strip with no feathers on her chest. I noticed it last night when her crop was full, so I made a point of looking her over today.

She's not broody, still laying eggs and not sitting on the nest.
No bugs, checked her all over - don't see a thing.
Not molting, again still laying eggs and it's smooth skin - no pin feathers coming in.

What else could it be?

 

[LarryPQ]

Molt?

Are you SUUURE she's not plucking them out?

 

[LarryPQ]

Could she be one of these rare, featherless chickens?

 

[Happy Chooks]

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She very well could be. The skin is smooth, no pins coming in. But why? She's not broody, not molting, no bugs, so what's the deal? She's never done this before.

 

[Happy Chooks]

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Ugh, that's gross.

 

[LarryPQ]

Protien? Maybe hook her up with some eggs and a can of catfood?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Any other ideas?

 

[crawfordmama]

Sorry to resurrect this thread, but three of my BSLs have this exactly as you described. Did you ever find the cause?

It's been quite hot here these past few days. Would they pluck their feathers to cool off?

 

[Happy Chooks]

I think she was a pig - it only happened for a few days when her crop was really full. In the morning, it wasn't noticeable. It went away on it's own.

Broodies will pluck their chest feathers out though. I have one girl right now that screeches, bites, puffs up like a blowfish, and has plucked her belly clean BUT she won't go broody! She lays her egg and it's like nothing ever happened.

 

[bethinoklahoma]

I have a rooster with just this problem and their is no way he is broody..
or loss of protein as we feed well or at least I think. Now he is a BIG rooster
and not one to cuddle so I am a bit worried if their is a problem or not.