Balding chicken, help!! -- PICS

[andythescot]

This young Australorp of mine, about 11 months, is definitely closer to the bottom of the pecking order and since March has been steadily losing feathers on her head. I haven't noticed any bullying, but that doesn't mean its not happening.

Any ideas as to whats happening and how I can stop it?

I also noticed her nostrils were a little runny.
















Thank you!!

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Does your flock have a rooster? He could be grabbing the feathers at the back of her head when he is mating her.

Or the hens could be pecking and once they see red skin, become even more motivated to peck. A lot of chicken keepers recommend using a farm product called Blu-Kote to camouflage the red skin to cut down on pecking.

 

[andythescot]

We don't have a rooster but I was just out with the girls not 10 minutes ago and I noticed one of my older Rhode Island Reds mounting that very australorp as well as a younger Easter Egger, which would account for that EEs messy back feathers. In one minute between the two hens, she mounted them three times!

Well now that I know whats causing the problem, the question is how to stop it!