My barred rock's behind is a bit red and I am seeing some of the chicken skin. Is this molting? I have yet to see any of my girls molt, so not entirely sure what I'm looking at. Is there a salve for the problem?
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Hi Lisa,
"Red" can be just the skin showing through in a molt or an irritation caused by pecking, bugs, injury (none pecking) or disease.
Below is a link to backyard chickens forum and a poster has a photo of what a molt begins to look like.
http://www.backyardhencam.com/2010/12/molting-hensno-eggs/
Molting usually occurs now in the desert backyard and continues for 14 weeks (yes that long) and the girl(s) may low few or no eggs during that time. Mother Natures seems to have a weird sense of humor causing them to mold just as the weather begins to get chilly!
Usually no salve or treatment is needed, just good feed, fresh water and a place to get out of the chill.
Do make sure you are not seeing another issue, such as I noted above.
Post a picture if you can.
Thanks Catherine! She is still laying, but I'll keep an eye on her. It does look like molt. Seriously strange timing on that!
I was also going to give the girls some yogurt and add cider vinegar to the water again to cover my bases...just in case.