Bald patch on neck under earlobe

[BawkinOnTheBench]

I don't know if they is anything wrong but ... I have 3 Wh Leghorns, 26 weeks old, that just started laying. Just since they started, I noticed that 2 of them have a small bald patch on their necks, right under the left earlobe. On one of them the patch is bigger - maybe about the size of a half dollar. Its got very clean edges - very smooth unfeathered skin giving way cleanly to normal feathers. There's no sign of parasites that I can see, and no sign of injury. I haven't seen any signs of fighthing, and they are all acting normally.

Any ideas what it could be, and if it's something to worry about? They wouldn't be moulting in their first year, would they?

 

[mypicklebird]

If it is symmetrical from side to side on each bird- it is probably normal. Best idea I can think of is go and look at someone else's adult and healthy birds and see what they look like! Some of my birds have less feathers on their faces than others.

 

[BawkinOnTheBench]

Its not symmetrical - just one patch on one side on each bird - they used to have feathers there.

 

[egyptchick]

I just noticed that one of my black sex links has a bald patch. no one else in flock and she seems healthy. no broken feathers, normal skin just bald. any new ideas?

 

[marlene]

I had a hen like that, bald round her ears and a bit on her face, thought she was molting till i actually see her sister pecking round her ears, face and neck. She did it ever so gently and the silly girl just stood there and let her pluck away lol.
Maybe one of your hens is pulling feathers off the others.