Please help! hen's breast is bare & bleeding! 😥

[Dancingwnature]

So she's laying properly right? An egg every other day or every day?

Yes, she lays an egg everyday. The shells are strong and the yolks are lovely.

 

[wrenhillfarm]

Here's a photo of Bandia's breast area:View attachment 2272336
View attachment 2272336

It almost looks like an infection or something like that. Is the red spot hot? Does it seem to be bugging her or does she seem uncomfortable?

 

[Lovem all]

Checking for mites or lice, look under her wings for small tiny bugs. I'm not sure but obviously it's bothering her and removing the feathers made her feel better

 

[Seed223]

No rooster. Bandia's my only bird. Not broody. I have books that say one thing (mites, lice - never use vet offered medicines - diatomaceous earth will fix it, just takes longer.). Then I've seen Epsom salty warm baths... I will try to get a photo of Bandia Sicín, when she's not posing & hamming it up for the camera.
I spent hours on the web searching for possible diagnoses, but I knew the only place that I would get anywhere was here.

My med background and all is in humans. What can I do to ease her discomfort? She's under-weight: her breast bone is quite pronounced. She's laying well. But, she still doesn't like chickenf feed I bought a brand new organic, nutritionally complete bag of feed.
[/QUOTE]
I am very new to chickens (we’ve only had ours about 4 months) but I remember when I worked in a veterinarian’s office we would frequently get birds in who plucked their feathers because they were stressed or lonely. I feel like I heard or read somewhere that chickens don’t do well by themselves since they are so social, they almost need another chicken around. I could be totally wrong here (and I hope if I am I don’t sound silly ) but do you think maybe she needs another friend to keep her company?

 

[Lovem all]

She very well could and that'd be a good idea (if you need good breed suggestions for "house" chickens that work well with barreds I can give imput). It's also even possible she did that to herself out of bordem
sorry about spelling

 

[Seed223]

I’m so new to chickens I’m not sure about all the breeds yet but I will say we have a buff Orpington cockerel that is the absolute sweetest thing in the whole world. I’ve read about them in general and they are referred to as the “golden retriever” chicken because they make great pets! I feel like I’ve also heard that Cochins make great lap chickens. Maybe do some research and look into them! You are a great chicken mama based on everything you’ve posted. I hope your sweet girl gets her feathers back soon and doesn’t lose any more!

 

[Lovem all]

I would suggest another barred, lavender orpington, or lack austalorp. I wouldn't get a male cause he'd over mount her and cause her stress.

 

[Dancingwnature]

No rooster. Bandia's my only bird. Not broody. I have books that say one thing (mites, lice - never use vet offered medicines - diatomaceous earth will fix it, just takes longer.). Then I've seen Epsom salty warm baths... I will try to get a photo of Bandia Sicín, when she's not posing & hamming it up for the camera.
I spent hours on the web searching for possible diagnoses, but I knew the only place that I would get anywhere was here.

My med background and all is in humans. What can I do to ease her discomfort? She's under-weight: her breast bone is quite pronounced. She's laying well. But, she still doesn't like chickenf feed I bought a brand new organic, nutritionally complete bag of feed.

I am very new to chickens (we’ve only had ours about 4 months) but I remember when I worked in a veterinarian’s office we would frequently get birds in who plucked their feathers because they were stressed or lonely. I feel like I heard or read somewhere that chickens don’t do well by themselves since they are so social, they almost need another chicken around. I could be totally wrong here (and I hope if I am I don’t sound silly ) but do you think maybe she needs another friend to keep her company?
[/QUOTE]
Absolutely! I just don't want to get her any coopmates until I know that their home is super chicken-clean

 

[Dancingwnature]

She very well could and that'd be a good idea (if you need good breed suggestions for "house" chickens that work well with barreds I can give imput). It's also even possible she did that to herself out of bordem
sorry about spelling

I would love to hear your suggestions! She's really friendly and not a drama queen.

 

[Lovem all]

Sounds like a typical barred. I'd stick with someone around her size and not too crazy in color so they don't have a big rift between them. Getting a boy wouldn't be good cause he'd over mount her and she'd get hurt. Another barred would be good because that's what she is and they are rather easy to tell apart if you know them well. I have had Black Austrolorps with my barreds for years and they get along great. They are really pretty with a green purple blue shimmer. They lay the same kinds of eggs and are sweet but a tad bossy sometimes. I swear my Austrolorps are the first ones to laugh at me. Lavender orpingtons are very sweet and docile and would most certainly let your girl stay top of the pecking order and get along extremely well with humans.