Questionable Looking Spot on Broody Hen's Breastbone

[KCNC06]

One of my two Partridge Rock hens has been broody for probably about 3 weeks, I've tried the dunking her belly/chest in cold water theory...it got her off the nest for a little while. Probably just until she dried off. I was nervous about putting ice under her in the nest because I didn't want it to freeze to her and give her frostbite...but I decided to give that a shot. I wrapped the ice cubes in paper towels first though in an attempt to keep the ice from sticking to her. That didn't work either. I guess the only other option is the wire bottomed cage, but I just don't have the time or skill to put something like that together.

Anyway. This afternoon when I lifted her up to see if she was sitting on any eggs (I collect any eggs that she might have under her every day, and we don't have a rooster so there's no chance she'd hatch anything even if I did leave something for her) and I noticed this yucky looking spot on her breastbone area. At least I think it's her breastbone. It's on her chest/upper belly area along a bone. It's greenish yellow and looks very much like a slimy wet scab, except it doesn't feel at all scabby and isn't wet.

Does it look like something that I should be concerned about, or does it look like she's just developed a bit of irritation from sitting on this nest for so long?? She's also starting to look a little thin, not really sickly thin, just like she hasn't been off the nest much in the past 3 weeks.

Thanks!

 

[Ms. Cluckingly]

I dont know, but I am hoping someone else will chime in here for you. Poor gal.

 

[speckledhen]

I have a very heavy hen who always has a scab there. I think her keel rubs on the edge of the roost alot. That's all I can figure.

 

[feathersnuggles]

My broody developed something similar in the same spot. A longish, discolored spot that was dry and not scabbed. I think it was a bruise, from how she would spin round and round the nest on her breastbone, until she made a D-E-E-P hole in the straw that she could press into with her breast. With no feathers on her chest (she had plucked herself clean), there was nothing to cushion against the pressure she bore down with. Also, I thought maybe, while she was doing the nest-thing, she hit a hard stone or maybe she hit the golf ball that was in the nest. (that golf ball was the sole "egg" she was brooding, poor thing)

So, I'm guessing yours is a bruise, too. Maybe the yellow indicates it is healing?

 

[poultry bro]

Well I don't know much about it but I do know its not just a hen thing my 6 and a half year old barred rock rooster has the same thing but he also has a wound on his knee area that will not heal its been there for a good six months and it happened when he stabbed himself with his spur so I removed them but I also need this answer I don't want to loose my old boy to infection.