Naked bottoms

[Judy]

I started feeding my flock grower feed with the usual oyster shell available a few months ago when young chicks were sharing the feed. I've never had pecking or feather eating problems. My chickens are in a large yard rather than a run and are let out of it to fo rage sometimes. I think they look a little better on the higher protein. Then I read that commercials LIMIT protein to whatever it is in order to increase egg production (why less protein would = more eggs I have no idea.) At any rate I'm going to keep them all on grower, or at least something higher in protein than layer, and not go back to layer. It is known that a need for protein will cause feather picking; feathers are high in protein. I don't know that you would necessarily see red or raw bottoms just from feather picking, if they are not also pecking the bottoms. JMO.

 

[Honor]

While not exactly pendulous, that area does seem to be more pronounced than normal. What does this mean? Thanks, Honor

 

[posey]

Quote:
It is hard to guess at something like this without seeing them first hand or photos.
I could be wrong but I doubt that this is caused by feather picking, it doesn't seem to fit your situation, to me.

I asked about their abdomens because I struggled with a similar problem last year. Loss of feathers right where you described but my girls also had enlarge abdomens between their legs.
Their skin was stretched because of the fluid, etc and without the feathers there they looked really weird.
My poor babies. Their problem was caused by e-coli. If you want more info just PM me and I will explain more about it and what I did for them and how it ended.

I currently have a hen that we purchased 2 months ago. She is making me nervous. She had a bad case of feather lice when I got her home. We treated but it took bathing her in a permethrin solution to really get rid of them. She lost all the feathers in the same area and she seems to be enlarged their too. I was told that she had recently gone through a molt and was not laying. The other girls I got at the same time have started to lay again but she hasn't. So I am rather nervous about her.

DDawn's info about the layer feed is interesting. Thanks for sharing that! I have been thinking about changing to a higher protein feed myself. Mainly because I was concerned about the girls not getting the nutrition they need over the winter. This settles it for me, higher protein content. Somone on a different thread suggested grower or turkey feed which both have higher levels of protein. Of course I would offer oyster shell like always.

Honor, have you looked in the coop at night with a flashlight for red mites? They are the ones that suck blood and hide during the day? Are the girls sleeping someplace different in their coop?

Sorry, I haven't been much more help to you.
Blessings,
Posey