That made you look!!!!

Have been at the old house today and spent a while with the hens, Lilo has a small patch on her breast which is bald and looks quite sore, its about where she probably rests on the perch. Is it normal and what can I do

It was lovely to see the girls, they came straight to me and ate from my hands

well, the main possibilities are.........
1) she's starting a moult. perfectly normal, nowt to be done, feathers all over the gaff she won't lay any eggs while moulting. most chooks moult in the autumn but my Boudi has three or so partial moults at varying times just to be awkward!

2) she's getting broody. perfectly normal although inconvenient. broody hens will pluck some feathers in order to have their hot little belly closer to the eggs if she's staying on her nest box, grumpy when you try to move her and lies kind of flat...like a big feathery pancake she may be brooding. remove eggs promptly each day and let me know and I'll pm you with the whole broody hen lesson

3) one of the others is plucking her not so likely cos this would normally show first round her bum but it's still a possibility. watch out for any sign of bullying.

4) red mites or other beasties. check beneath her wings and around her vent for lice (biege to orange, look like tiny grains of rice) and check in the nooks and crannies of her coop for redmites (little black dots that splat red when squished with your thumb nail ) either of these beastie types would be unlikely at this (cold) time of year and would affect all your hens not just one but it's always worth a check cos they're 'orrible.

thanks Tara, I'll pop over there tommorrow and have another look for, and ask Paul to look out for signs of being broody or the others pecking her, if shes moulting would her skin be red?

well, I've never noticed it being particularly red but, having said that....my hands and nose go red in this cold weather, so perhaps bare breasts would too

what do you reckon Vera?

the skin is very red and sore looking, poor Lilo but it may just be because thats where her breasts rest on the front perch

okay, being serious now.
If there is even a spot of blood...the other birds will turn on her and peck her to death
Make sure P keeps a close eye out and if there's blood you can buy an antiseptic spray that is bright purple and tastes disgusting (the vet will know where to get it locally) you spray it on the bird to mask any blood, stop secondary infection and the taste is so awful that the others won't peck it.

I have never heard of a chook getting a bald patch from the roosting bars though

Lilos feathers are growing back