Hard, red, dry spot on chicken.

[chickiedad]

Our Barred Rock hen, 2 yrs, old, has a hard, red, dry spot on her breast, which can be seen easily, since she has also lost all of her feathers over that spot. Does anyone know what this is and what to do about it?

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

Our Barred Rock hen, 2 yrs, old, has a hard, red, dry spot on her breast, which can be seen easily, since she has also lost all of her feathers over that spot. Does anyone know what this is and what to do about it?

It might help to post a pic of the spot

 

[chickiedad]

Our Barred Rock hen, 2 yrs, old, has a hard, red, dry spot on her breast, which can be seen easily, since she has also lost all of her feathers over that spot. Does anyone know what this is and what to do about it?

It might help to post a pic of the spot

Thank you. Here is a picture. Since my original post, I have discovered a similar spot on her belly. Seems like it might be a little painful for her.

 

[coach723]

A couple of thoughts.... First check her over for lice/mites, which should always be done when there is feather loss. This site has lots of pictures to help you ID anything you find.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/Feather picking is a possibility, it often happens on the roosts, I don't see any broken shafts, and frayed feathers, which would indicate that though.
Check her feet, and legs for any injuries or signs of bumblefoot. Foot or leg problems can cause them to rest their breast or belly on the roost at night and rub feathers and irritate the skin.
Some heavy birds will rest that way just because they are heavy, so if that's the case then padding the roost with something that can't be pecked and eaten may help. If your roosts are narrow, or round then changing them to something wider like a 2x4 with the wide side up might help also, gives them more to balance on.
A bit of coconut oil may help with the irritation, if the skin is broken anywhere you could use plain neosporin or plain triple antibiotic ointment. I would check her over well to look for any other heath issues that may make it hard for her to roost. If it's from rubbing on a roost and it continues it can result in a breast blister, which is kind of like bumblefoot on the breast.

 

[chickiedad]

A couple of thoughts.... First check her over for lice/mites, which should always be done when there is feather loss. This site has lots of pictures to help you ID anything you find.
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/Feather picking is a possibility, it often happens on the roosts, I don't see any broken shafts, and frayed feathers, which would indicate that though.
Check her feet, and legs for any injuries or signs of bumblefoot. Foot or leg problems can cause them to rest their breast or belly on the roost at night and rub feathers and irritate the skin.
Some heavy birds will rest that way just because they are heavy, so if that's the case then padding the roost with something that can't be pecked and eaten may help. If your roosts are narrow, or round then changing them to something wider like a 2x4 with the wide side up might help also, gives them more to balance on.
A bit of coconut oil may help with the irritation, if the skin is broken anywhere you could use plain neosporin or plain triple antibiotic ointment. I would check her over well to look for any other heath issues that may make it hard for her to roost. If it's from rubbing on a roost and it continues it can result in a breast blister, which is kind of like bumblefoot on the breast.

Thank you. I don't see any lice/mites. She is not a heavy bird. Her roost is a 1x4 inch board with the wide side up.
I will check for feather picking and will apply ointment. Also will quarantine her. None of our other 4 are showing signs of this condition.
Thanks again.

 

[coach723]

I honestly wouldn't quarantine her at this point. If it's feather picking then separating her could just make it worse. Instead I would do some observing, look for some picking at roosting time as they fuss each other around trying to find a spot. Also look after all is calm to see if she's resting on the roost and rubbing against it. And again, check feet and legs. Even very early bumblefoot can make them rest on the roost. Or that just may be the way she's comfortable roosting. Has she ever been broody? Did she molt this year?

 

[chickiedad]

Thank you again. I quarantined her (had already done so when I read your comment) and applied antibiotic ointment to the red spots. She seemed to like that. Then, in the quarantine cage, she was quiet and went to sleep on the small roosting bar.
Have not observed feather plucking in the past or rubbing against the regular roosting bar. I don't believe she molted this year. She has not been broody. Her behavior seems normal.
I am wondering about an internal problem causing this.