Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: NATHAN on December 19, 2007, 15:19

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: NATHAN on December 19, 2007, 15:19

Ruby has lost feathers on her underneath - clean unbroken skin but no feathers. Not visible unless you turn her upside down, which shes not keen on. Otherwise in good spirits and is laying well (for this time of year). No other feather loss that i can see - whats going on and is it something i should worry about??

Thanks


Nathan

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: WG. on December 19, 2007, 15:27

Is she broody?   I've read on these forums that broody hens will do this to increase heat transfer to their eggs.

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: Selkie on December 19, 2007, 15:28

How you you mean on her underneath? If it's from her breast maybe she's going broody? Mine pulled out her feathers from there when she was broody - you wouldn't notice it until you picked her up.

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: Fenland Girl on December 19, 2007, 17:14

One of my hens has exactly the same thing! It's been like it for a few weeks, doesn't seem to be getting any worse or better. I had a few suggestions  on here - search for 'bald patch' (don't know how to do a link to a thread!). I have deloused and de-mited, given everything a good clean out. She doesn't seem to be suffering in any other way so I'm just keeping an eye on it.

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: Aunt Sally on December 19, 2007, 17:44

Quote from: "WG."

Is she broody?   I've read on these forums that broody hens will do this to increase heat transfer to their eggs.

Quite right WG

Does she pick things up and throw them over her shoulder  :?:

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: NATHAN on December 19, 2007, 18:42

Wot, like salt and the like??!!

Have not noticed any broody behaviour. She does seem to like eating eggs though.

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: Selkie on December 19, 2007, 19:18

:oops: I just noticed that I posted pretty much the same thing as Wiggler (but it was at the same time so I hadn't seen it) -- sorry for the repetition.

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: Aunt Sally on December 19, 2007, 20:26

Quote from: "NATHAN"

Wot, like salt and the like??!!

Have not noticed any broody behaviour. She does seem to like eating eggs though.

Egg eating is not good  :evil:

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: NATHAN on December 19, 2007, 21:16

Not good in a devil chicken kinda way of just a bit inconvienient???
Bit concerned now

Title: Feathers lost on undercarrage
Post by: SnooziSuzi on December 19, 2007, 21:39

Devil chicken!