[FrostyM]

A few of my la bresse hens have a bald patch around their vents. They are kept in a larger group of hens but these are the only ones with the bald patches. I haven't noticed any bullying or pecking going on. I heard that hens can get this when laying well. These birds have been laying well all winter, could this be the cause? I have no problem with it if the birds aren't ill or suffering just wondering if it could be something wrong? I have attached a photo which might help diagnosis. Thanks

[goosepimple]

  maybe they're hussies.


Normally the lower breast area goes bald for getting closer to the eggs for transfer of heat.  Are they looking like they want to sit just now?  Have you checked for mites?  Are they sleeping in a different area from the others where there might be mites or laying their eggs in a different place from the others?

[FrostyM]

I had wondered if it was a style thing  they have been living, laying and roosting in the same place as the other hens. I have just separated them for breeding but the patches have been there before the move. I haven't seen any lice, would they be noticeable on the hens if that was the cause? None have been sitting on eggs. They all seem to be eating well and acting normally. It's a strange one

[FrostyM]

Seems others are having a similar problem here but I don't see anyone coming up with a reason for it. http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/120841/bald-butt-and-swollen-below-vent

[Hevxxx99]

Mine did this as a sort of partial moult. One got very red, but ot sore or inflamed: it was like comb colouring. Never seemed to bother them, but it must've got very draughty!

[in the hills]

I once had a batch of hybrids where most had the same looking thing as in your photo. The area was very red.

There were no mites in the pen and I couldn't find any reason for these bare bits.

Did some research and all I could find was that hens that were good layers often had this and the redness was normal.

They all lived to a normal age, seemed healthy and were brill layers.

[FrostyM]

Thanks everyone hopefully it is moult or just a bald patch. I don't show birds or anything so once they are laying eggs and I can use them for breeding I'm not too worried. They seem happy enough and don't seem to be in any pain so I will just keep an eye on them.

[HesterF]

I've got one that looks a bit like that. I'd always just assumed that's how she was but got a vet friend to have a look at her recently and she said she's got a big prolapse. She still lays OK and is a normal hen in every respect. I think the reason she's bald is she gets all mucky down there and it just pulls out the feathers (or I clean her up every so often). I wouldn't imagine that would be the case if you have several though.

H

[shygirl]

is it swollen or is she just plump? if its moult you should see new feathers coming through soon.

I would treat for lice just incase.
 

[FrostyM]

I don't think she's prolapsed, it doesn't look that way anyway. And as you say because there is a few of them it would be unlikely.

I think she's just a big girl, it doesn't seem sore, they don't mind me touching it. I might give the whole flock a dose of lice powder to be on the safe side. They don't seem to bothered by it but it wouldnt do any harm.

[chrismahon]

I've had this condition with a number of hens and never got to the reason for it. No lice or mites and they remained happy and laying. The area looked a bit sore so I applied vaseline. At the next moult they feathered up fully. I wondered if it was a reaction to the inaccurate cockerel?

[in the hills]

No cockerel with mine at the time. A mystery.

[Foobar]

I have a light sussex with same red and featherless behind this year.  She moulted over winter, but the rump feathers never came though.  I've been wondering what the cause was, she's laying now, and I have given a calcium supplement in case she started laying too soon and has depleted all her reserves - not made any difference yet though.  I'll treat for lice just in case too...