Bare breasted chooks

[Stan79]

Hi all,

Two of my four have a largish patch of feathers missing on their breasts. Neither has been broody recently. We have had a red mite infestation in the last few months. I'm pretty sure they don't have any lice. They've been wormed recently.

Any ideas?

[Stan79]

And the other one.

Thanks all.

[roitelet]

I would say that they are heading for a broody session.

[kathyd]

Quite possibly broody yes - although the second pic does seem to show a bit of scabbiness or something? I've noticed that with lice before, and found patches on some of my birds the other day when I finally managed my first 'pick up and turn them over' check on them since Feb... might be worth doing another dusting, just in case? I've also noticed some of my birds do a small moult in the summer, although I've not seen it restricted to the breast area. No other signs anywhere else on them?

[muddled]

Difficult isn't it?
The first looks like 'broody boob' and I agree with Kathy..the second looks flaky.

The thing is, if my girls look to be going broody, I dust them well with diatomaceous earth because I know they simply won't look after themselves properly for a few weeks. So I would dust your birds thoroughly whether you believe it's mites/lice or not.
Whatever it might be, it will leave them more suseptable to parasites.

[Stan79]

Thank you. Good, simple advice. Will do this afternoon when i get home.

[Scarlet]

I would also dust as a "just in case" and the top ones do look like " broody boob" I've never heard that before and I'm going to use it often! It really made me chuckle the flaky one I think she's resting on it at night. What is the sleeping arrangements? She's obviously perching with that rubbing, check the wood, perhaps it needs rounding off or smoothing. You could rub a bit of Vaseline/ sudocreme on that.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I must go to Spec Savers, not going to tell you what I thought this thread was called!!!!

[Stan79]

I must go to Spec Savers, not going to tell you what I thought this thread was called!!!!

I don't know what you could pssibly have thought i meant!