One of my girls had some crusty frozen feathers on her hind end (we are in Wisconsin so cold here) and I thought it looked red. I brought her in and used warm water and a washcloth and cleaned up her feathers and then dried her before taking her back out. But this spot is red and I don't know if it is swollen or if this is normal sized. She didn't squawk or flinch when I touched it and it doesn't feel hot or have any spot that it oozy. Could it just be irritated from the yucky feathers that are now cleaned up? She is on the nest and laying daily yet, at least I am assuming so as I see her on the nest daily and later there is an egg. It could in theory be others after her, but most lay before her and u get those eggs up right away. Usually she is my later morning layer so when I check around noon after she has been sitting and there is an egg.
She likely has feather mites also known as depluming mites. Don't bother looking for them they are too small to see. Feather mites in chickens are similar to face mites in you and I. Yes probably every human has little creepy crawlies coming out of our eye lashes.
This type of mite is extremely distressing to a chicken and they will often pick themselves naked trying to find relief.
Her skin itself looks great, smooth as can be, just a little red. And none of the feathers appear qtip like. I checked her again tonight and she looked good, still a little red but seemed better. Still later today and is doing everything as normal. I'm going to just keep and extra eye on her each day and see what comes.
