I'm at a loss, advice for red featherless skin

[ChirpyChicks1]

My flock decided on a winter molt. This hen started, what I assumed was molt, in January. She's had a weird spot on her chest/crop area for months and random feathers sticking out here and there. Unlike my other girls this hen has not gotten better, her chest looks the same, no new growth and she has a large area under her vent thats bright red, there looks like there is some feather growth but its been over a month, if not two, and it's the same in that area.

She eats and drinks great, no behavior changes. Tonight when I went to lock up the coop she was laying on the coop floor. I flipped on the lights and she went below the roost and desperately wanted up but she wouldn't actually jump. She's a big heavy bird but not fat at all. Its completely possibly she jumped and fell before I came in, or maybe got pushed off the highest roost (yes, they have more than plenty). I thought maybe she was nervous to try again, I've seen one of my other girls do that.

I did remove her and put her in my brooder , I dusted her with sevn dust and she dined on scrambled eggs. I just don't know what to do for her redness and feather loss, this has been going on for so long. She hasn't laid since last fall but with the "molting" I havent been expecting her too. I have a few pics I'll upload.

She'll be celebrating her 2 year birthday this coming week.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

This is her chest/crop area

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Under vent, which actually looks fine itself. I check my girls for bugs almost everyday. They have never had any and she doesn't appear to have any now but I did dust her anyway.

 

[Rowsdower]

It almost looks like she is rubbing her breast against some sort of fencing or hardware cloth. Pacing at the gate to the run?

 

[justplainbatty]

She may have a breast blister. I'm not too familiar with how to treat, but you don't want it to become an abscess. Feel the left side of her breast for squishiness, look under her feathers for blister. You may have to drain it and/or give antibiotics. heavy breeds can get this, change the size, angle or width of her roost.
I didn't see pic two at first. You may have a feather picker in the bunch. It's good to dust for bugs just in case, like you did.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Well they do that when they see me outside but I spy on them enough to know she doesn't do it obsessively. They have a wide roost, maybe 4in wide. I had thought at first that maybe she had laid in poo and this was the result of her picking it off but I scrap the roost daily but slack every now and then. Gah, why cant these animals tell us whats wrong!

 

[justplainbatty]

Well they do that when they see me outside but I spy on them enough to know she doesn't do it obsessively. They have a wide roost, maybe 4in wide. I had thought at first that maybe she had laid in poo and this was the result of her picking it off but I scrap the roost daily but slack every now and then. Gah, why cant these animals tell us whats wrong!

Actually, as you do this longer, they kinda do tell us what's wrong.Sometimes, we're just not listening. Try switching to a two inch roost or large branch, something where as little of her breast/keel rest on it as possible.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Thank you, I'll certainly look into that, my chicken coop modifier lives several hours away for school so thats not something I'll be able to chsnge quickly. I had always read that larger was better

 

[justplainbatty]

Thank you, I'll certainly look into that, my chicken coop modifier lives several hours away for school so thats not something I'll be able to chsnge quickly. I had always read that larger was better

Here is an interesting article. You may want to experiment! http://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care-and-advice/the_perfect_perch_1_2842822

How is your girl today? Did you catch the feather picker pulling out her butt feathers? Were you able to determine if she has a breast blister?

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

From my spying on them there is no evidence that anyone is pulling feathers, including herself and no breast blister. She looks exactly the same as she has for months now and continues to eat and drink fine. She's driving me up the wall!