Rhode Island Red with very red backside

[chitownhens]

I was wondering if anyone might know what this condition may be. It's been like this for almost 6 months and it does not appear to be mites. The rest of my flock are doing fine and upon visual inspection I did not see mites.

She is very happy but I am a little concerned.

 

[chickencoop789]

Wow that's really weird... is it hot or swollen at all?

 

[chitownhens]

No it's not hot nor does it look swollen. Initially I thought it was just a part of molting but it's been like that since the summer.

Other than that she seems fine.

I read someone posting about vent gleet..............not sure if that applies to the back of the chicken too.

 

[Birdrain92]

I was wondering if anyone might know what this condition may be. It's been like this for almost 6 months and it does not appear to be mites. The rest of my flock are doing fine and upon visual inspection I did not see mites.

She is very happy but I am a little concerned.

Do you have a rooster? How many hens do you have?

 

[chitownhens]

No roosters...........I live in the city of Chicago and I have 21 hens

 

[Birdrain92]

No roosters...........I live in the city of Chicago and I have 21 hens

Ok then. I can't really think of anything now. Maybe the other hens are eating the feathers. Give them some oyster shells maybe. It will help her with feathers too.

 

[chitownhens]

Yes they have access to a feeder that is filled with oyster shells. I do have one feather picker but she picks from the hens in her group and is not too bad. The Rhode Island Red is not part of the group with the feather picker. The 3 different age groups all tend to stay with the group they were with when they were baby chicks.

 

[Birdrain92]

Yes they have access to a feeder that is filled with oyster shells. I do have one feather picker but she picks from the hens in her group and is not too bad. The Rhode Island Red is not part of the group with the feather picker. The 3 different age groups all tend to stay with the group they were with when they were baby chicks.

Well then this is an odd case. I can't think of any other reasons. Only thing that could do feather damage is mites. Lice, fleas, and ticks remain on the body. Check you birds at night. Some mites will only come out at night and onto birds during the night.

 

[chitownhens]

Okay I will check her at night. But is it possible for only one bird to be affected by mites, etc if that were the case?

 

[Birdrain92]

Okay I will check her at night. But is it possible for only one bird to be affected by mites, etc if that were the case?

Usually that's not the case. But of course mites don't read books nor rules. I would doubt it. Not much else that I can think of through experience or research.