[northfifeduckling]

our youngest hen has had a bare back and behind for several weeks now. The back looks quite red and inflamed at times but not always, her behind is just bare. At first I reckoned she was just in a moult but it seems strange that there are no signs of new growth. She is fine in herself and not miserable like the others when in moult. I give her regular dusting with lice/mite and diatom powder and on sunny days coat her bare skin with nappy rash antiseptic cream. She does not seem to be of much interest to the cockerel.
Any ideas what else it could be or what strategy might work?

[Pedwardine]

Is she perhaps being picked on by her companions? Poor thing. Worth separating her out to see?

[northfifeduckling]

I wish I could seperate her but the hospital area is still occupied by a duck who hurt her foot about the same time as when I broke my own  . Maybe I should try anti-pecking spray? 

[manian]

we spray bald patches with anti pecking spray.... (except baggy bum as her bald area seems no bother to her
Mx

[jaykay]

How any cockerels do you have? The hens I've got with bare backs are because of over amorous cockerels 

[northfifeduckling]

just the one boy to 6 girls.he seems to spread hia attention fairly evenly (to my knowledge) .

[chrismahon]

We have a cockerel who regularly trod a hen with a bare bum. Creams didn't work. Removed him for a few months and the feathers regrew. Wonder if it was a reaction to him squirting?

[plumseverywhere]

One of ours has a bald back and sides. Tried one of those cockerel saddles but I'm not sure that they don't actually hinder feather regrowth?
I've not seen the cockerel tread this particular hen, ever! But the sides that are bald and red look like where his spurs would go. Funnily enough, the other 12 are all perfectly feathered  and I know I see him with them!
She has no lice etc so I'm confuddled. Will watch this thread with interest to see if you find out what's going on with yours!

[northfifeduckling]

we've now used the anti-pecking spray. Her skin looks really raw but maybe it;s the spray's colour....My daughter said she watched her peck at it herself, now I'm even more puzzled. Is there any beastie that doesn't respond to mite /lice powders or diatom that could make her itchy? And she shouldn't peck at it herself after the spray if it tastes the way it smells!

[Skirza]

2 suggestions...a saddle worked really well on one of our bald hens  (we made one out of an old rucksack and some elastic) - we never did work out whether she was pulling her own feathers or if she was being picked on....and the other suggestion comes from the guy who runs Goat Nutrition...he swears by anti nail biting lotion, says he uses it on his parrot!

[Mel]

we've now used the anti-pecking spray. Her skin looks really raw but maybe it;s the spray's colour....My daughter said she watched her peck at it herself, now I'm even more puzzled. Is there any beastie that doesn't respond to mite /lice powders or diatom that could make her itchy? And she shouldn't peck at it herself after the spray if it tastes the way it smells!

Hi,If she is pecking at herself is she actually eating the feathers?If she is it is because she feels deficient of something.If you wish your girls feathers to grow back use Nettex mineral powder (not spice) in their feed,this is a product which does really work,

I now use this all the time after having similar problems a couple of years ago,I sprayed the bare patches with Gentian Violet which is soothing and reduces the possibility of further pecking and infection,(unfortunately chickens always peck at red,whether it be blood or red skin) my Gemima was bald from when she came,used this process and it did take a while,whilst being called "Punk Gemima" she became fully feathered once again.

If a cockerel is doing lots of damage and I know many shun away from it,but I have used Stockholm tar,this does work but stinks,is really sticky to use like black treacle! The hen at the time became filthy with stuff sticking to her,but the cockerel would not go near her