What is wrong with my chicken's butt

[Motherhen1165]

Does anyone know what this is and what I can do to help her? It is red and inflamed.

 

[DobieLover]

Does anyone know what this is and what I can do to help her

Picture?

 

[Trux]

@Eggcessive @casportpony

 

[Motherhen1165]

Picture?

 

[Motherhen1165]

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you compare her lower belly with the other hens to see if it is enlarged? She looks like her bottom was feather picked by another hen or possibly herself. If her belly is enlarged, she might have ascites or internal laying. Since her bottom is red and may attract more pecking, I would consider getting some pine tar ointment to smear on their to help prevent pecking.

 

[Trux]

Another possibility is mites...if you can, sit and watch her and see if she is doing alot of preening, more so than your other chickens. Depluming mites can't be seen, but they cause irritation to the point where a chicken will pull out feathers.They live in the area between feather shaft and skin, some also live in the shaft of the feather itself

 

[Eggcessive]

It is always a good idea to check for the pressence of lice and mites or feather damage when there is feather loss. Also look for any overcrowding, and most chickens need 4 square feet of floor room for each chicken in a coop. They need 16-20% protein in a balanced chicken layer or flock raiser feed. Any scratch or treats will dilute that. Getting outside to free range can help to prevent pecking.

Looking again at your pictures of the hen, are her ankle joints swollen? They appear that way, but a better picture of the legs and feet would help.