No stomach feathers, external stomach irritation

[zan328]

I have a 3-year old hen I thought was broody, staying in the nest all day. When I moved her to check underneath for eggs, I realized her underneath feathers were all gone and her skin looks irritated, red & blotchy. Any thoughts?

 

[silkiechicken]

Is she bloated underneath or feel "solid"? Might look into ascities if she's bloated or stand like a pinguin. Or you can look into internal laying. Or look into external paracites like lice/mites.

She could very well be just broody, plucked out her feathers, and chicken skin tends to turn red and blotchy when exposed and not covered by feathers.

 

[chicmom]

Broodies will often pull out their belly feathers, so that the eggs will be against their skin.....It's OK.

 

[zan328]

I will check her for bugs, and if I don't find any I will assume she is okay. I think she is one that was broody last summer, but I sure don't remember her pecking her tummy feathers off

Thank you so much!