Missing feathers, red butt.

[Thechickentrainer1999]

I have a buff Orpington hen who molted last fall, she didn't go through a hard molt at all just lost a few butt feathers, here we are months later and those feathers have not grown back and her skin is really red back there? Any suggestions or answers? Could it possibly be another hen plucking them out before they fully come out?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a buff Orpington hen who molted last fall, she didn't go through a hard molt at all just lost a few butt feathers, here we are months later and those feathers have not grown back and her skin is really red back there? Any suggestions or answers? Could it possibly be another hen plucking them out before they fully come out?

Can you please post some photos?

Having missing feathers around the vent could be from other chickens plucking them out.
Have you looked for lice/mites?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Yes...post photos.
My first thought went to self picking due to mites. Have you thought of depluming mites?

Do you have a rooster that favors her? I have several favorites that are missing some bum feathers. He doesn't seem to tread their backs, but the act seems to fret away bum feathers in the hens.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

...also does her bum smell bad? (Yes it is a chicken's behind which is not fresh smelling...but does it smell baaaaaaad.)

She may have some yeast infection going on with vent gleet. Any drainage from the vent?
LofMc

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

No drainage but I will post photos soon.

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

Here is a photo. Hope this helps.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Here is a photo. Hope this helps.

Is that her vent area? If so,, on my small smart phone screen, it looks like she has a prolapsed vent.

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

Is that her vent area? If so,, on my small smart phone screen, it looks like she has a prolapsed vent.

It's her butt. Not her butt hole.

 

[Thechickentrainer1999]

Before anyone says mites, I had never seen any on her. I hold her in my lap a lot and have never had any get on me or seen any? Maybe another hen is just plucking the new feathers before they get the chance to come in. It's been like this for about 6 months since she molted.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

So you mean a bare spot on her abdomen below her vent, above her legs? or between?

A zoom out would help to orientate the area.

If closer to the vent, just below vent, then mating damage. If more towards the abdomen, molting? Or, yes, mite damage, or feather plucking.

If she has some bare spots on her abdomen, does she appear to have any broody symptoms? Hens will pluck feathers to make a nest.

Not sure what it is.
LofMc