Hen with angry bald bottom

[Finelyfound]

18mth old Copper Marans Hen has lost the feathers on her bottom and the skin is red, dry, swollen and angry looking. The swelling is fairly soft. She is otherwise fine, took me forever to catch her and she fought the whole time I was holding her. The photos are crummy b/c I was holding her and she was not cooperating. She looks worse in the photos. It is not nearly as swollen as it appears in the photo. In the last photo I am holding her down on the ground . But it is very red and dry. We have been having extemely cold weather here, this weekend it’s supposed to warm up. We have a young Roo who has recently come of age and I am noticing several of my girls have mysterious random bald spots. I have only had chickens for 2yrs so am very much an amateur. Is it possible the Roo did this to her? What else would cause this type of irritation and swelling. I took a close look while I had her pinned down and I didn’t see anything that looked like parasites. Thank you in advance. Jocelyn

 

[Welshies]

Where is this on her?
How many hens do you have? And you have one rooster correct?
How big is your coop (dimensions)?
What are you feeding?

 

[Finelyfound]

This is under her tail, her “bottom”.
I have 19 hens, 1 young Roo.
Coop is 12x12 horse stall. Run is 20X6 covered.
I am feeding Nutrena Layer Feed dry. They previously were fed fermented feed, but since my daughter moved back home into the guest room near the laundry I can’t ferment my feed in the laundry room any longer.
I have on occasion noticed a hen missing feathers in the same area but never to this extent or with the irritation.

 

[Welshies]

This is under her tail, her “bottom”.
I have 19 hens, 1 young Roo.
Coop is 12x12 horse stall. Run is 20X6 covered.
I am feeding Nutrena Layer Feed dry. They previously were fed fermented feed, but since my daughter moved back home into the guest room near the laundry I can’t ferment my feed in the laundry room any longer.
I have on occasion noticed a hen missing feathers in the same area but never to this extent or with the irritation.

I suggest avoiding layer feed.
Other than that, is it around the vent? Under her is not normal.

 

[Finelyfound]

What kind of feed do you recommend? I have access to Southern States and TSC.
Honestly I had a very hard time managing her and trying to examine her while she struggled. This swelling is beneath her vent.

 

[Chicken Whisper101]

You can feed them Purina flock raiser feed for roosters, hens, ducks, and geese.

 

[Finelyfound]

What is the reasoning behind feeding the flock raiser vs layer feed. Is there a certain percentage of protein that’s preferable?
Any guesses on what’s going on with her bottom?

 

[sunflour]

View attachment 1239992 View attachment 1239993 View attachment 1239994 18mth old Copper Marans Hen has lost the feathers on her bottom and the skin is red, dry, swollen and angry looking. The swelling is fairly soft. She is otherwise fine, took me forever to catch her and she fought the whole time I was holding her. The photos are crummy b/c I was holding her and she was not cooperating. She looks worse in the photos. It is not nearly as swollen as it appears in the photo. In the last photo I am holding her down on the ground . But it is very red and dry. We have been having extemely cold weather here, this weekend it’s supposed to warm up. We have a young Roo who has recently come of age and I am noticing several of my girls have mysterious random bald spots. I have only had chickens for 2yrs so am very much an amateur. Is it possible the Roo did this to her? What else would cause this type of irritation and swelling. I took a close look while I had her pinned down and I didn’t see anything that looked like parasites. Thank you in advance. Jocelyn

IMO molt...see the new pin feathers all over her bottom? the skin is so delicate that the redness is likely just some sun/wind/cold irritation.

It is not likely the Roo's fault.

I like it that she's feisty, and not ill

 

[Chicken Whisper101]

What is the reasoning behind feeding the flock raiser vs layer feed. Is there a certain percentage of protein that’s preferable?
Any guesses on what’s going on with her bottom?

The flock raiser has 20% of protein. I don't know any other reason why its red and irritated, but I'm thinking your hens or roo has been pecking her.

 

[Finelyfound]

Most of my hens molted late fall, but I have 2 who are molting now. This girl looks good with the exception of her bottom, she’s not lost any other feathers. The weather has been awful and they have been choosing to stay inside so it does not surprise me that they may be picking at each other. I’ll keep a close eye on her. Thank you