[Diamond]

Wondering if anyone might be able to shed light on this condition. I have one chicken in my little flock of four, who is suffering from some feather loss on her neck and tummy. Other than this, she is a very healthy, happy chicken - good appetite, normal behaviours, always full of zest & happy to see me, tail in normal position etc etc. I can see my chooks from my kitchen window & haven't noticed any aggressive beaviour from other members of the flock, and even if there were, it doesn't really explain the loss from her tummy. I can't see any sign of mites and her diet is good.

These chooks have just turned two and are my first brood, and so I am still a relative newbie in these matters. Can anyone help me see what I've missed??!

Thank you!

[richyrich7]

Hi Diamond welcome to the forums  

Can't help you I'm afraid but some one who may know will be along shortly

[Kate and her Ducks]

Don't know much about chickens (more of a duck girl) but could she be getting broody? They pull out feathers to line the nest themselves I understand.

[Foxy]

Hello Diamond,
Do you have a cockerel?
The reason I ask is there could be a few reasons
1.Cock related -they do tend to tug on neck feathers
2. Semi moult -Sometimes a partial moult just from neck
3. Broodiness - usually just breast area and will feel quite warm,coupled with broody behaviour -more time in nest box, fluffing up and a kinda of growling at you!
4. Feather pecking -is usually around vent area and area usually looks "pecked" with some evidence of blood

Hope this helps!!!

[Diamond]

Thanks so much for your help & suggestions, & welcome!

I don't have a cockerel no, & I think it's incredibly unlikely that she's broody - I didn't mention that they are Hyline Browns - not a scrap of broodiness in them generally speaking, I'm lead to believe. Surely they can't be moulting again already - they really only just moulted a couple of months ago, and, well it's not so even as a moult really. I think her vent area is untouched, but I will double check in the morning, and she is still friendly towards me - more friendly than one of her sisters - her behaviour hasn't changed at all. I don't think she's spending anymore time in the next box than usual, but again I will check that. (It's funny, I have 3 nest boxes, but all 4 chooks insist on using one particular one - why is that?)

Do you think that because she seems healthy I shouldn't worry too much? I'd really like to understand what's going on though.....

[GrannieAnnie]

Also, with feather loss around neck, is she putting her head through any chicken wire?  We have one who puts her head through the wire round the run which is about 1inch mesh, and it rubs her feathers off.

And with the breast area, sometimes if they perch, the perches can rub feathers off, or if they don't perch but lay down to go to sleep on the ground, if they lay on fresh poop, the ammonia in the poop can take the feathers off.

Just another couple of ideas!!