bald red patch on chest

[arundel]

My RIR has had this bald patch for about a month, with no signs of broodiness and the skin is clean and intact. She slow molted over the fall - this does not appear to be part of that. It's January now, cold and rainy. She is almost 2 years old and has laid almost daily since she began over a year ago. She and her 3 sisters do not bully or peck each other. I have read as many threads as I could find about bald patches and aside from broodiness. Should I just wait it out, whatever it is?

 

[azygous]

It's too high to be a breast blister, which are very difficult to diagnose and even harder to cure. What this appears to me to be is chronic feather plucking. The hen herself may be doing it, or it may be done by another chicken as she roosts.

Consistent observation is the only way you will solve the mystery. This hen may be doing excessive preening out of stress. Or your roosts are so close that another hen has her head in perfect line to be doing this.

Another possibility is parasites. Depluming mites cause extreme discomfort and skin irritation and cause the chicken to pull out the feathers. Look over the rest of her skin to see if you see redness and scabbiness. Check over all the chickens. It may be affecting more than just one.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you check her crop early each morning to see if her crop is emptying overnight?

 

[arundel]

I'll do both those things, thanks