Balding chicken

[thesunflowergal]

The smallest of our chickens is quite a bit smaller and thinner than the others. i have not wormed them since I have had them, could this be the problem? I scater the feed on the fllor of the run, so there is plenty to go around. Last night I noticed that she is bald all down her breast bone. I assume that this is not normal as the other girls are not like this. I am pretty sure that she is not being pecked by another chicken, as its an odd place and I have not seen any sign or any feathers.
I am not sure what to think.

Thanks Nikki

[theabsinthefairy]

chickens can self pluck if they are stressed, and they can eat the feathers if they have a lack of protein in their diets - or she could be moulting - is she old enough that you may expect her to moult?

Apple cider vinegar in their drinking water is a good tonic, and maybe keep an eye on her food intake over a couple of days to make sure she is getting her fair share.

[thesunflowergal]

Thanks for that. I do give them ACV, but I will give them some more tomorrow. They are feed on layers pellets, with a bit of grass and a few veggies thrown in. I can not remember when they moult but she is about 37 weeks.

[JulieSherris]

Nikki, is her comb starting to go pale?
Our Maran 'Mama' Cass is a total broody babe & she starts to pluck when she gets broody. It's so that their bare skin can provide the heat & humidity needed for the eggs... just a thought!

[thesunflowergal]

Jules. She does seem to be, but I will keep my eye out.

Thanks to both of you.

[ChickenHouseKit]

Just one thing comes to mind... If as you say you have flooring inside the coop this itself could be the problem.

After a while the flooring in coops deteriorates as with any wood that is close to moisture and soil.
There could be mites in the wood or even infection from dropping residue.

A good safe solution is to not have a base in a coop! Even if you place your chicken coop on concrete
or any hard surface it is always advisable to lay down soil for the coop to sit on. This prevents rats,
mice from nesting and pestering (eating) the chickens as well as giving them unwanted deseases.

So when you build a simple chicken coop this might be something you want to think about or
research further beforehand.

Hope this was of some use...

Warm Regards,

Clive Anderson