Bald headed hens

[klb25]

I have 28 hens and 2 roosters. Two of the hens have bald heads now. Rooster Junior is a bit rough with the girls, so I thought maybe it was his doing. What has me second guessing is Rooster Senior is also bald headed. I do also have a hen who is rather bossy and an instigator.

I have checked multiple chickens for lice and mites over the last week and can't find any signs of them at all.

They eat layer pellets, no change in food, have fresh water at all times, and spend part of their day free-ranging.

What do you think is going on here?

Sorry about the donut. It was done in a desperate attempt to get a good picture of said baldness.

 

[50-45-1]

Wondering what kind of feeder you have or if you have some sort of situation where chickens may be reaching on somewhere (fencing?) And rubbing off feather with repeatition?
If it was just the hens I would say mating damage. But the rooster may mean it's something else.

 

[klb25]

Wondering what kind of feeder you have or if you have some sort of situation where chickens may be reaching on somewhere (fencing?) And rubbing off feather with repeatition?
If it was just the hens I would say mating damage. But the rooster may mean it's something else.

I hadn't thought about that possibility, thank you! I can't think of anything they'd be rubbing their heads on, but I'll absolutely check and make sure in case there's something I haven't noticed.

They eat in the yard while free-ranging and don't use an actual feeder. Their waterer is automated, with water running through PVC and into watering cups. I'll make sure there isn't some damage somewhere that's causing it.

Thanks again!

 

[GravityWaves]

I've had a similar situation this spring, although slightly different flock dynamics (smaller, no rooster.) A couple of my birds started getting bald heads this spring when they all started laying. I spent more time around them in and out of the coop and eventually saw the same couple birds pecking and a little pulling of head feathers (nowhere else.) The peckers were at the top of the pecking order and the ones getting pecked were at the bottom. I'd never had this issue before but I integrated three pullets last fall and it must have shook things up.

Maybe one or more of your birds are asserting dominance and doing the same thing? I also used to have a rooster that would stand there and let the hens "groom" him and by grooming I mean plucking out all his beard feathers and some face/head feathers. Maybe it's something similar or maybe one of your birds thinks they are above him in the pecking order? Just some thoughts...

 

[klb25]

I've had a similar situation this spring, although slightly different flock dynamics (smaller, no rooster.) A couple of my birds started getting bald heads this spring when they all started laying. I spent more time around them in and out of the coop and eventually saw the same couple birds pecking and a little pulling of head feathers (nowhere else.) The peckers were at the top of the pecking order and the ones getting pecked were at the bottom. I'd never had this issue before but I integrated three pullets last fall and it must have shook things up.

Maybe one or more of your birds are asserting dominance and doing the same thing? I also used to have a rooster that would stand there and let the hens "groom" him and by grooming I mean plucking out all his beard feathers and some face/head feathers. Maybe it's something similar or maybe one of your birds thinks they are above him in the pecking order? Just some thoughts...

I think this is most likely what's going on. I took in three hens last summer and one of them is super bossy. I've seen her pecking others but wasn't sure if feather-pulling was part of that. I can easily imagine her considering herself ranking above everyone, roos included!

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks like feather picking. You might try changing feed to an all flock or flock raiser feed, but always put out some crushed oyster shell for the layer to take free choice for extra calcium. The roosters might be better off without the layer, and the slightly higher protein might please the feather pickers. Do they get out to free range early in the morning, and is there any overcrowding in the coop, in the nest boxes, or on the roost? They will stay or sit around sometimes and pick feathers as they juggle position on the roost.

 

[klb25]

It looks like feather picking. You might try changing feed to an all flock or flock raiser feed, but always put out some crushed oyster shell for the layer to take free choice for extra calcium. The roosters might be better off without the layer, and the slightly higher protein might please the feather pickers. Do they get out to free range early in the morning, and is there any overcrowding in the coop, in the nest boxes, or on the roost? They will stay or sit around sometimes and pick feathers as they juggle position on the roost.

I'll change their food right away and get them some oyster shells. Thank you for the guidance!

They free range first thing in the morning. There are two very large coops and multiple nesting boxes in each one. I have three roosting bars but they all seem to want to use the same one!

 

[sourland]

Looks like over grooming that has escalated to feather pecking/plucking. If all else fails, Pin Less Peepers on the 'peckers' can stop and sometimes cure this bad habit. Very likely any birds in perfect feather are the culprits.