Bald chicken

[hairycob]

I know it's not horsey but I thought less likely to disapear down the board than in soapbox.

1 of my chickens has lost all the feathers around her nexk & some on her chest since Friday. I haven't seen the others pecking at her, the coop was sprayed with mite solutions last week (no sign of them, just a routine clean) & I can't see any injuries/sore spots. I'm at a bit of a loss what is causing it. Yesterday it was just 1 side of her neck, this morning it is completely bald. I have sprayed her with anti peck spray this morning. Any other ideas?

 

[Baggybreeches]

Could she be moulting? I would try a tonic in the drinking water or if she looks a bit 'off the boil' we have some little tablets called white sesqui, they are usually used by pigeon guys but they seem to work as a pick me up?

 

[jendie]

Some of them go virtually bald when they moult and this is the time of year that is happens. I'd spray for mites just in case, I'd also be watchful incase the other birds start bullying her, they can be really vicious and could easily kill a hen that isn't feeling 100 per cent and looks a bit 'different'. If it is a normal moult she won't be bald for long.

 

[Dolcé]

We have had one do the same thing but her feathers reappeared almost as quickly as they went, unfortunately in the couple of days she was bald the others decided to start pecking her, she became a nervous wreck and I had to bring her home. She is now fully feathered and very spoiled and happy, bless her!

 

[aerodynamic]

You may find a tonic called Life-Guard useful as we have used this in the past with great success helping chickens get through malts...

 

[Merry Crisis]

Could she be moulting? I would try a tonic in the drinking water or if she looks a bit 'off the boil' we have some little tablets called white sesqui, they are usually used by pigeon guys but they seem to work as a pick me up?

White Sesqui is just baking powder and a very old fashioned remedy, used before modern drugs. I too have a bald oven ready hen, been like this for a while, I am going to put a paste of flower of sulphur and goose grease on her. Dunno if it will work, but tried everything else!

 

[rosie fronfelen]

I know it's not horsey but I thought less likely to disapear down the board than in soapbox.

1 of my chickens has lost all the feathers around her nexk & some on her chest since Friday. I haven't seen the others pecking at her, the coop was sprayed with mite solutions last week (no sign of them, just a routine clean) & I can't see any injuries/sore spots. I'm at a bit of a loss what is causing it. Yesterday it was just 1 side of her neck, this morning it is completely bald. I have sprayed her with anti peck spray this morning. Any other ideas?

I would think she is moulting whichis natural but also painful for her, i would leave her be to regrow her feathers in peace.

 

[hairycob]

That's a releif. None of them have gone so bald moulting before. I'll keep an eye out in case the others pick on her.

 

[millimoo]

3 of my mums bluebells are moulting at the moment too... They're all looking really scrawpy.
We have a frizzle Brahma who was bald for about 3-4 months last year. She looked dreadful and we were quite worried about her, but she eventually grew some feathers and this year is magnificent. The rest of the hens aren't moulting.
Bear in mind they stop laying when they moult too

 

[Dubsie]

You haven't got a cockerel in there have you? (We had one picked on a particular one - they grab at the neck to mount, and she was missing a neck of feathers.)