BALD CHICKEN???????

[sandyj]

We thought my friends chickens were molting about 1 month ago. They are only 9 months old. I went to see them today and 2 of the 3 hens are bald behind their head on their necks. Are they still molting? Could the rooster be pulling them out? Mites? How long do chickens molt? The hens hardly layed for the last 1 1/2 months and now they are back to laying again, but where did their neck feathers go????

 

[Master S.M.C]

Could be both, right now I'm not sure about length of molt

 

[gritsar]

If they are back to laying again their moult is over. Someone is pulling those head feathers out.

 

[sandyj]

Could it be the rooster? I've heard they can scratch their back sides, but not there necks. The rooster doesn't have the talons(or whatever they are called) to rip the backs apart. Could it be that is what he is holding on with while mating?
sandyj

 

[KyleD.]

Roo's will do that mating sometimes as if he's trying to hold her still

 

[SeramaLife]

Happens to one of my hens too. She is at the bottom of the pecking order. I am not sure how they came out originally, but the hens that are higher then her give her a peck once in a while to let her know whos boss and that keeps them from growing back.

 

[gallo34]

I have a rooster that does this...he leaves little bald spots on the upper neck area of the hens...that don't have a little comb on their heads...if your not sure...I would pull the rooster for a few days...just to see...