Scabs and missing feathers 🐓

[ddago003]

Hi there,

My hen is almost 8 months old. About a week ago I noticed she had some feathers missing just below her vent. I thought perhaps she was starting her first molt. She has always matured faster than the rest of my girls with a big red comb early on and was the first to lay. This is my first flock so everything has been very new for me. My other 4 hens have no missing feathers. Today, I saw her bald spot also has some scabbing and does not look very healthy. Please can anyone tell me what this is and what I need to do to help her. Picture attached. Thank you so much!

Here are some more details:

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)

Buff Orpington, 8 months, I don’t know weight but seems to be same size as the others.


2) What is the behavior, exactly.

Normal, happy girl and very friendly.


3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

About a week, maybe a little longer.


4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

No


5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.

Scabbing. I haven’t witnessed any active bleeding.


6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.

Nothing. Everything has been routine. Haven’t changed anything.


7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.

100% organic crumble feeder out all day. Then cooked protein scraps, and produce as treats. Primarily cucumber peels, strawberry tops, green bean clippings, grapes, some weeds, etc. They forage as well in a fenced in open air space.


8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.

Wet, a little runny but pretty normal.


9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?

Nothing


10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?

I would prefer to treat her myself. Organic and natural is important to me as well.


11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.

Attached


12) Describe the housing/bedding in use

They have a fenced in outdoor run with a screened in shaded area they can go to for dust baths and to rest from the sun. The run and coop also have pine shavings.

 

[CCsGarden]

Only thing I can think of is that one of them is pecking at her back end. Did she have anything stuck on her bottom to cause the others to pull at it?
That is good chunk of missing feathers.


Just something to keep in mind, berries are not the best for chickens. So maybe stop on the strawberries.

 

[ddago003]

Only thing I can think of is that one of them is pecking at her back end. Did she have anything stuck on her bottom to cause the others to pull at it?
That is good chunk of missing feathers.


Just something to keep in mind, berries are not the best for chickens. So maybe stop on the strawberries.

That’s what I was thinking could possibly be happening but I haven’t seen any of them doing it when I’m out there. Nothing was stuck there… now that it’s exposed I wonder if they would peck more because they see the scabs. I had no idea about berries being no good. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Debbie292d]

Strawberries, in moderation, are actually very good for chickens. I wish ours liked them more as they just take a bite and move on.

Feather picking can occur for a few reasons but the top two are overcrowding and lack of protein.

For space, they should each have 4 sq feet per bird in the coop, and at least 10 sq feet per bird in the run, the more the better.

If there is no space issue, then perhaps give them some high-protein treats, such as scrambled eggs or a bit of wet cat food, or fish like tuna in water, etc. If you can watch them or put a camera on them for a half an hour, I think you'd find your culprits.

I would gently clean the area with warm water and some antiseptic, or just mild soap, rinse, dry, then rub some triple antibiotic salve or Vetericyn on that area, then keep her away from the other chickens for a few days. If you know there's one that wouldn't be the aggressor, you could put one with her so she's got a friend. Once she's healing up, I'd spray with Blue-kote and let her back with the rest.

 

[ddago003]

Strawberries, in moderation, are actually very good for chickens. I wish ours liked them more as they just take a bite and move on.

Feather picking can occur for a few reasons but the top two are overcrowding and lack of protein.

For space, they should each have 4 sq feet per bird in the coop, and at least 10 sq feet per bird in the run, the more the better.

If there is no space issue, then perhaps give them some high-protein treats, such as scrambled eggs or a bit of wet cat food, or fish like tuna in water, etc. If you can watch them or put a camera on them for a half an hour, I think you'd find your culprits.

I would gently clean the area with warm water and some antiseptic, or just mild soap, rinse, dry, then rub some triple antibiotic salve or Vetericyn on that area, then keep her away from the other chickens for a few days. If you know there's one that wouldn't be the aggressor, you could put one with her so she's got a friend. Once she's healing up, I'd spray with Blue-kote and let her back with the rest.

This makes so much sense! Thank you very much for such a thorough reply! Going to start trying out some of your recommendations. Don’t have a good way to separate her from the others but going to brainstorm on it. Definitely don’t want to leave her getting her scabs pecked at. I have a feeling it’s the bottom of the pecking order messing w her. Shes the only one that’s aggressively nipped me a handful of times and I’ve had to train her to stop.