Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: gaynormouse on December 26, 2011, 11:27
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hello i am quite new to keeping chickens (june 2011) and have just noticed that one of my chicken has lost its feathers just underneath its bottom. it is eating ok and otherwise looks ok any suggestions of what it is and how to help it would be appriciated thanks ;)
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it is probably moulting :)
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;)Happy Christmas!!
Probably moulting as was already said.
A
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It does sound like the start of moult. If it is the only hen moulting keep an eye on bullying. We have had to separate one of ours (just during the day) as she was getting weak through not being able to get enough food and water due to bullying. She is normally quite high in the pecking order but this changes during the moult.
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thanks don't think she is being picked on have seen her eating well so hopefully all will be ok thanks for your help :blink:
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One of my hens had a bare bum for ages till I changed the roosting - think one of the others was bored when closed in at night and was amusing herself by plucking poor Poppet's bum clean as a whistle. Swapped the roost bars and now Poppet's bloomers are back good as new.
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How much room do they have?
I saw no signs of bullying, but back in June when my mother was looking after mine whilst I was moving found one of my girls dead in the hen house completely pecked to pieces.
They are now in their new run which is alot bigger which you can visually see they are happier.
One of mine has had a bald bum for ages & feathers off her chest & neck. Because of the time she has been like this I'm not sure it's a moult.
She is now getting her feathers back on her chest, but very slowly.
I'm not saying yours aren't going through a moult, but this is just what I have experienced.
Give them things to do & mess about with. Mine have a ball & a swing in their run which is quite amusing :D & plenty of ground to dig about in