Red skin/bald patches on my hen- please help!

[Claire Kelly]

Hi,

One of my hens has bald patches on her throat, breast and belly and the skin underneath looks very red and inflamed. In herself she seems fine, eating, drinking, scratching around etc. The feathers on her neck have been missing a good few weeks- they just dont seem to be coming through! We have checked her for mites but didnt see anything (not 100% sure what we are looking for)- any help or advice would be appreciated! We have a total of 6 hens and all the rest are completely fine!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rachnicko]

How’s your hen doing now? Have you found the cause? Do you have a cockerel?
Is that the shafts of the feather still intact, or are the new feather growth?
I am no expert, but wondered if you had any answers as I have a hen who has some belly feathers missing.

 

[MSO]

Following! One of my hens has something like this on her back above the tail. No roosters to contribute to it and the skin itself looks very similar in colour to yours. No mites here either.

 

[Rachnicko]

Could it be de-pluming mites? I looked those up, and they live in the feather shaft so I don’t think you can/would see them... I think they can strip the feather so could leave just the middle part similar to how these look?

 

[sarahconnor]

Hi,

One of my hens has bald patches on her throat, breast and belly and the skin underneath looks very red and inflamed. In herself she seems fine, eating, drinking, scratching around etc. The feathers on her neck have been missing a good few weeks- they just dont seem to be coming through! We have checked her for mites but didnt see anything (not 100% sure what we are looking for)- any help or advice would be appreciated! We have a total of 6 hens and all the rest are completely fine!

Thanks in advance!


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I just posted about my hen, been spraying her with gentian purple It is an anti-inflammatory and anti-fungus spray and it just never changes but she seems comfortable I obviously need to do some research on this topic good luck with your girl

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

One of my hens has this too. I assumed it was just molting and her being picked on. Watching to see responses

 

[Rachnicko]

Sorry I’m not an expert on this at all @Ninjasquirrel and @sarahconnor - I wonder if hens get alapicia
I guess the obvious things would be moulting, bullying, broodiness or parasites. I hope you figure it out