[poppysmate]

I have 4 girls, all laying 6 eggs a week and who seem to be enjoying life.  One of the black rock ladies has suffered feather loss and is very red underneath.  She has not stopped laying but resembles the condition of my other black rock when she went broody.  So I was expecting a repeat performance.

However, I picked her up yesterday for a closer inspection to find she had a growth underneath.  As I picked her up I knocked off a large scab to reveal a weeping sore.

Red mite is not a problem in my coop although I do occasionally get a few.  Other than the growth and feather loss (pictures attached) she seems very healthy and happy.  She matches the others in the laying stakes.

Any idea what it is, the cause and the remedy?

[Oakdalebirds1]

Hi it looks like rubbing from the roosting perch , purple spray should help heal

[ANHBUC]

If there is no lump it could just be a sore that has become inflamed.  You can use wound powder or purple spray on it.  If you think it is from perching try keeping her in a clean nest box on a night for a few days. 

If there is a lump you would be better consulting a vet.  Keep us up to date on her progress.

[Helenaj]

Have you had a good look at it- there's not a foreign body in there such as a splinter from the perch? To me it looks like a blister - so it maybe it is a pressure sore as Oakdalebirds1 says.

[poppysmate]

Many thanks for the interest.  To make your diagnosis easier I've blown up the photo for you.  As you can see the wound is open.  The white area under the skin surrounding the opening is hard so you can grip it between your finger and thumb.  If you do, a small amount of blood and serus fluid exudes but no puss.  She does not appear bothered by the pressure I apply to the wound (but then I don't know if chickens feel such pains anyway).

The wound, although raised, appears clean.  Don't forget I knocked off a scab about the size of a 5p piece so perhaps this could be the result of a puncture wound, a feather follicle going wrong (if hens suffer such problems) or a long standing infection perhaps.  Could it be a mite bite that has gone wrong?

As for time, she has been losing her feathers for some months (you recall I was expecting her to go broody so wasn't worried).  Her name is 'Speedy' which reflects the difficulty we have in catching her for examination so this has probably been an issue for her for some time.

She is not picked on by the others, in fact she is top hen in the flock so takes no messing about.

[ANHBUC]

It could still be infected so she may need antibiotics.  I know when they get bumble foot the infection is quite solid or fibrous rather than puss so maybe this happens else where.