No breast feathers?? silkie smooth skin??

[daddysgirlz]

I have a black silkie hen that is laying eggs now...A few months ago, when it was warmer, i noticed she did not have any feathers on her breast?? All I see is silkie smooth black skin?? I will get cold and is now down to 29 degrees at night...should I worry at all that she has no feather underneath her?? She is also laying soft eggs and I am now mixing in oyster shell with the food...

 

[CMV]

Was she broody? Broody hens will pull out their breast feathers to incubate their eggs leaving what's known as brood patches- or bald spots on their breasts and or their undersides. The feathers will grow back and she should be fine in the meantime. Soft-shelled eggs happen. You sound like you are dealing with this by adding the oyster shells to her diet, so she'll hopefully be back on track soon.

Good luck with her.