[SusieB]

My 3-4 year old Blackrock has a very sore looking tummy. (Will try and post a picture).  She is very nervy and I rarely manage to catch, so I was very upset when I realised how bad the skin on her tummy is.

She's a feisty but nervy chook.  I think she self-harms by pulling out the feathers.  I'm trying to let her free-range as much as possible (fox allowing) to keep her occupied.

Why is the skin so red in places, and dry and white in others?  I have sprayed her with purple spray and anti-peckspray, but not sure how much help that will be.

Here goes with the photo!

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Susie, is it near the breastbone?  Looks like it in the photo.  If it is, it could be where she perches at night.  None of my chickens ever had it as sore as that, but some of them often had dry scaley skin where they rest their breatsbones on the perch when asleep.  Hope it is that

[Beekissed]

I'd check her under a bright light to see if she has mites or lice eating her skin/feathers...could be she has an infestation.  If you can get your hands on some castor oil it may soothe and protect that area, while promoting feather regrowth. 

[SusieB]

She does perch on the felt roof of their rain shelter.  It's fairly smooth, not sure if there's anyway to make it less abrasive. 

Having being trying to put Vaseline on her tummy, castor oil sounds a better idea. 

One of her chook chums has been to the vets recently, and they couldn't see mites on her.  Hoping that means I haven't got an crawlies.

Thanks everyone.