No feathers on the birds belly.

[drezac10]

I am wondering why my black sex-link hen is missing all of the feathers between its legs and breasts. I live in MN and we have some colder weather here. Bird is about 8 months old and she likes to just lay in her nest box. If I pull her out she will go eat and climb back in the nest box. No eggs today or yesterday from her. Any ideas? Molt?

 

[artsyrobin]

have you looked to see if she has mites? maybe post a pic of her?

 

[BooBear]

sounds like she is broody.
she wants to hatch eggs.

 

[xyresicchick]

she wants to hatch babies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jeslewmazer]

Quote:

They will go bare underneath to incubate the eggs and line the nest.

 

[CMV]

Those bare spots are called brood patches. Looks like you have a broody. Congrats!

 

[Judy]

All about broodies here: http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

Best thing to do now is put fertile eggs or day old chicks under her. Any chance you could do this?

 

[drezac10]

I don't have any roosters.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

How bare is the patch? I don't recall broodies plucking feathers all the way between the legs...

 

[sourland]

You already know you don't need a rooster for your hens to lay eggs. The same thing goes for going broody. You have a broody hen just like everyone says.