Need some advice about a naked chicken

[mdelhomme]

I just got a new "baby" yesterday. There was quite a bit of commotion getting her out of the brooder and into a box for transport and she was really freaking out so I didn't have the chance to examine her well yesterday. When I got her home and lifted her wings I noticed that her back is completely bare with what looks like broken off feather stubs from her shoulder blades to her tail. She also acts very timid, but I expect it's the new environment, she's alone in a brooder now, before she was in with about 50 other chicks. She's about 10 weeks old, is very calm today when I hold her and she actually fell asleep on my lap.
So…has she been pecked bare? What do I do? I'm afraid she'll get sunburn if I let her outside, I'm going to make her a little T-shirt to cover her back, but will her feathers grow back or do I have to wait for a molt? I have 3 other chickens, now a year old who have never gone through a molt. Please advise.

 

[aart]

She may be in the awkward stage between down and feathers?
Do you see any pin feathers coming in?

 

[BonRae67]

She may be in the awkward stage between down and feathers?
Do you see any pin feathers coming in?

Agreed

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I just got a new "baby" yesterday. There was quite a bit of commotion getting her out of the brooder and into a box for transport and she was really freaking out ....When I got her home and lifted her wings I noticed that her back is completely bare with what looks like broken off feather stubs from her shoulder blades to her tail. She also acts very timid, but I expect it's the new environment, she's alone in a brooder now, before she was in with about 50 other chicks. She's about 10 weeks old, is very calm today when I hold her and she actually fell asleep on my lap.
So…has she been pecked bare? What do I do? I'm afraid she'll get sunburn if I let her outside, I'm going to make her a little T-shirt to cover her back, but will her feathers grow back or do I have to wait for a molt? I have 3 other chickens, now a year old who have never gone through a molt. Please advise.

It sounds like you picked the runt of the litter, in other words a bird who ranks near the bottom of the pecking order. It may help if you pull the broke feather stubs out with pliers because new feathers don't come in unless the feather follicle is empty.

 

[mdelhomme]

She has lots of feather stubs, like they've been broken off or pulled out. Her poor tail just has a few feathers and the rest is bare and prickly. The girls we got last year as chicks never looked this bad, they grew in pinfeathers but never looked "shaved". She sits a lot, too. Even eats sitting down, my daughter was speculating that perhaps she has had her toes pecked at and that's why she sits so much. We've been handling her a lot, and giving her lots of loves, and she's calming down and accepting snuggles now.

 

[mdelhomme]

It sounds like you picked the runt of the litter, in other words a bird who ranks near the bottom of the pecking order. It may help if you pull the broke feather stubs out with pliers because new feathers don't come in unless the feather follicle is empty.

Won't that hurt?

 

[Kev]

Give her uncrowded accommodations and a good diet and she will be in pristine condition again, no problem.

Won't hurt to give some treats with higher protein to help with feather growth.

Sun burn is no concern, they don;t really get sunburned. Some people think they do due to the red coming up on naked areas but it is the same skin reaction to direct sunlight as on their faces. This girl has enough feathers to keep the back reasonably covered anyways.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Won't that hurt?

I promise you that you won't feel a thing,

but sooner or later the broken feather shafts will have to come out. The proper argument is are you acting in your chicken's best interest by doing nothing, or by acting now you can minimize future discomfort?

 

[azygous]

She is almost certainly a victim of bullying and picking.

You provided a clue as to why in one of your sentences - "She sits a lot, too. Even eats sitting down, my daughter was speculating that perhaps she has had her toes pecked at and that's why she sits so much." When there is something wrong or off about a particular chicken, the others will often pick on it relentlessly.

Examine your new hen very carefully. Feel her legs. Watch her walk, does she stumble? Can she hop up to perches okay? Can she run or do bullies overtake her forcing her into a submissive crouch? Are the scales on her legs and tops of feet raised and ugly looking?

Most important, examine the feet, especially the bottoms. Is the skin smooth and pink? Or do you see black scabs and red tissue?

Sometimes we look at symptoms of a problem without ever thinking about the problem that may be causing them.

How old is this hen? You mentioned her being in a brooder with 50 others. She looks much too big for a brooder. The reason for her bare back could easily have been over crowding, if you can rule out any physical problems.