Kitana724
In the Brooder
I found this patch of bare feathers yesterday around the head of one of my chickens. Any idea what could be causing it? There is no bleeding or trauma, just missing feathers.
This is a Rhode Island Red. She is about 3 months old and lives with 23 other mixed breed chickens all the same age. She does not exhibit any other signs of distress. She is eating and drinking normally, and seems to be an appropriate weight. She has been more attention seeking, but that may be due to the extra attention i've been giving since finding this spot. The coop has been muddy and most of the flock has had mud around their heads matted into their feathers, but I haven't found spots on any other birds. I thought this might be lice, so I put some DE in the coop and on the bird. I'm not sure if I should separate her from the rest. My guess would be that the other birds would peck or pull more feathers, but I haven't seen that behavior when I am out there. There doesn't seem to be any imminent threat. I've seen no abnormal poop or other signs of distress. The coop is a blocked off portion of the barn with sand bedding and nest pads in the nesting boxes (https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Pe...=1505171295&sr=8-1&keywords=nesting+box+liner). They have access to an external run which is mostly mud right now.
This is a Rhode Island Red. She is about 3 months old and lives with 23 other mixed breed chickens all the same age. She does not exhibit any other signs of distress. She is eating and drinking normally, and seems to be an appropriate weight. She has been more attention seeking, but that may be due to the extra attention i've been giving since finding this spot. The coop has been muddy and most of the flock has had mud around their heads matted into their feathers, but I haven't found spots on any other birds. I thought this might be lice, so I put some DE in the coop and on the bird. I'm not sure if I should separate her from the rest. My guess would be that the other birds would peck or pull more feathers, but I haven't seen that behavior when I am out there. There doesn't seem to be any imminent threat. I've seen no abnormal poop or other signs of distress. The coop is a blocked off portion of the barn with sand bedding and nest pads in the nesting boxes (https://www.amazon.com/Precision-Pe...=1505171295&sr=8-1&keywords=nesting+box+liner). They have access to an external run which is mostly mud right now.