Do Greys Pluck Completly There Chest/stomach & Legs When They Breed For The First

[Williamvas]

Could somebody please help in the above subject please. I have a mature breeding pair that had the hen pluck her whole chest/stomach & legs prior to laying her first egg. I also have noticed the Cock bird starting a little. Is this normal? Is this what Greys do in Breeding season? I have never heard of this Could it be because she laid her very first egg ever? Could it also be that she wanted to fluff up the breeding box? Could somebody please give me an answer to assist the birds. NOTE:::: Vet check is all good food is all good, enviroment has not changed other than me putting down the blind 3 weeks ago so they can have more privacy, believe this is what triggered her breeding & laying her first egg. Would really appreciate any sort of feed back as seeing her plucked makes me feel sick & hurt.

Thank you

[Lisa B]

hiya. I did pm ya, and I hope you find that helpful.
Emma who will be 6 in Jan, is plucking in the same EXACT areas you are describing. I think I'll faint if she has an egg!!



anyone else have a hormonal female and if so, where do they pluck?

[Pacosmomma]

I have a chicken who laid her first three eggs. No rooster, mind you, so we could have et the eggs. She pluck a bare spot on her chest which is called a brood patch where the heat can pass more directly from hen to eggs. In chickens, the rooster never broods the eggs. In pigeons, the cocks often share brooding duty, and I have never seen either pluck, nor in doves. Can't think why a larger area would be needed, seems a bit excessive. So some is probably normal, but maybe not this much?

[cmal9158]

we are friends with a breeder and he has many different parotts that pluck just as you have explained.
He has been breeding birds for 30 years and still does not know why some birds do the plucking he says who ever finds the answer to this problem will be a wealthy chap.
hope this post helps
chris