What's going on with hens chest?

[Justagalwithchicks]

Hi there smart chicken people,
My hen Hazel is going on 2 years old. She has this odd patch of bare skin over her crop. I've been keeping an eye on it for a month or so thinking molting maybe? But it's not growing in any feathers. She empties her crop every night, eats well, is active and lays beautiful green eggs almost every day. It looks really large in the picture I'm holding her because how I had to hold her to take the pic I believe although, she always has a large crop by the end of the day. Ps. She has done a slow molt all winter and continued to lay all winter. She eats 20% all flock crumbles. Thanks for your insights

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's a common area for feathers to be worn off either on the roost or sitting in the nest boxes. Some hens will also pluck some of the lower chest feather for better contact with the eggs, AKA a broody patch.

I would check her over for mites and lice, and treat if necessary. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it unless it continues to get bigger.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

That's a common area for feathers to be worn off either on the roost or sitting in the nest boxes. Some hens will also pluck some of the lower chest feather for better contact with the eggs, AKA a broody patch.

I would check her over for mites and lice, and treat if necessary. Otherwise I wouldn't worry about it unless it continues to get bigger.

Thanks! I should say I did a thorough check for lice/mites and didn't find anything. Her crop is bigger than my other hens so I was worried about pendulous crop? But she has no symptoms but a big crop. But now that you mentioned broody patch she likes to sit on the others eggs until we shoo her off. Maybe that's what's going on. She's such a friendly gal! Likes to jump on your back. Haha