balding heads on 3 hens and age?

[pitbulls and chickens]

I have 3 Buff Orpington hens we aquired from someone selling them who said they were about a year old but really have to wonder? Theyve never had feathers covering their heads fully and a year later are actually thinning more. Is this a sign of an older hen or something else? Can we buy wigs to spare them the social embarrassment amongst the other girls?! LOL! Kidding aside, has anyone else had this or have a reason? Cant help but think they may be older, but havent read this as something to determine age...

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

I've had hens go bald when the rooster gives them to much attention. The feathers get pulled when he's gripping them to mount. I suppose if they has some type of skin damage the scar tissue might not let the feathers grow back.

 

[Judy]

Any chance it is from lice/mites?

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

 

[Cacciatore]

Welcome from Northern California.

Do you have roosters? It sounds like they are a bit aggressive.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

and

from Ohio. So glad you joined. Ms.Frizzle is right about scar tissue. I have a white rock hen that no longer has tail feathers. She was picked at so much is was awful. I would get the area to heal, then it would happen again. Today she just doesn't grow any tail feathers and she doesn't get picked on anymore.

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC. Most likely the feathers will regrow after the next molt. Increasing protein intake for a few weeks might help encourage feather regrowth.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama.

 

[bburn]

About six months I bought two hens and three pullets from a breeder. I actually did not notice the one hens head or I would have questioned it then. Got them home and put them in quarantine. One hen was fine. The other was so bald she looked like her entire head was a comb! All red. I worried over it and even posted a picture of her. And yep, too much attention from the roo. Quarantine time and then putting her in the run with the much matured pullets in size and age and she grew her feathers back. Maybe it is a difference in roos.

I now have a cochin hen who is losing her head feather. Bad deal as she is the only hen with her roo. That changes this next week as I got rid of my other roo and am going to intergrate the hens with the cochin roo and his hen. Should be a win/win for all involved and looking forward to the feathers growing back on the hens head!

Oops....and

 

[pitbulls and chickens]

Thank you for all the replies! I dont have a roo but wonder if they were faves of the previous at one time?? I did have 2 Barred Rocks that were clearly a roosters favorites with alot of missing feathers which mostly have grown back but was on their shoulder area not top of head and down neck. One actually has lost more throughout the winter and seems another is starting..its been a long gradual process, so I questioned aging possibly?

 

[Attack Chicken]

from Indiana!!!!