[phillp]

Hi - can anyone help -  one of our chickens has gone bald on its breast bone and the skin from the neck down towards the breast bone is very red looking.  She seems ok in herself and we've checked for infestation of lice/mites but can't see anything.  Does anyone have any idea what might be the cause/ treatment for this?  Cheers

[richyrich7]

Hi Philip welcome to the forums    
Is she leaving feathers in the nest box or puffing herself up if she's in there and you put your hand in ? could be broody, quite normal  

We have lots of experienced members who will be a long shortly with more advice and ideas

[babe]

what richie said    if she's sitting tight, she's broody.

[phillp]

Hi -
Thankyou for the welcome.
We don't think she's broody as she is leaving the nesting box and she does seem to spend most of her days out of doors scratching with the other girls.

We have not noticed a lot of feathers in the box either, although it was full of straw, so its possible we missed it!

She managed to escpae the run yesterday and was quite happy scratching about around a tree.

Thanks

Phill

[Aunt Sally]

I think we need a photo Phill  

[phillp]

Here she is.

The birds have an area about 20x20 foot at the moment, which they have been in about 2 weeks.  it's under some trees and next to a hedge - full of weeds and grass, well less now of course.
We also feed them layers mash.

Of the 3 birds 1 is ok, 1 has lost feathers, and one has lost feathers and is raw (the one in the picture).
All seem happy and when we went out there a moment ago to take the picture they all came running over as usual.

Thanks

Phill

[Aunt Sally]

What's their perch like Phill ?  Could it be chafing (sp?) them ?

It should be 4-5-cm wide

http://www.poultry.allotment-garden.org/Poultry/Start_Keeping_Chickens/chicken_coop_check.php

[phillp]

Yes standard perch size with rounded edges - they have been using it for a year with no problems.

[phillp]

There is also a "going bald" patch under her neck, could not get a photo of it earlier though.

Here's the house:

[phillp]

Hi there,
Went out to see the girls this morning, and they all came running over (morning escape bid) but no change to the red skin.
We have just removed the straw (was clean) from the house, and replaced it with news paper (to make cleaning up quicker).  I wonder if the straw was making her to hot?
Thanks
Phill

[Bodger]

That red skin is something thats going to stop with her for a while if not for good. Its almost what is known as a bursar ( spelling probably incorrect) caused by pressure from either perching or from possibly sitting in the nest box too long. Has she been broody ? As long as you can put up with knowing its there, its certainly not going to worry her in anyway. Try and forget it and she'll be fine.

[Aunt Sally]

Thanks for that Bodger !  I thought it was something to do with pressure because she does have a very prominent keel bone.

[Foxy]

I have with one of my hens  with a similar reddened patch on her breast and she has been broody - I have just added an extra couple of inches of woodshavings in the nest box as well as chucking her out of the nest box every 5mins!

[phillp]

Ahh that could be it, as when the straw was in the house she used to sleep on that rather than the perch, so now they are back to the perch we should see an improvement.
Thanks for the help guys.
They are still popping out eggs each day, and are about a year old now, so everyones happy

Phill