baldy hen

[Hen Hilton]

Interested in your opinion on what the cause may be.

One of our hens (purchased at POL) is about 4yo now.

At around 12 months she looked like she was preparing for her first moult. She stopped laying and started looking scruffy.

3 yrs on and she hasn't progressed from this point.
She is otherwise healthy, happy and active. She is still the matriarch.

She is starting to loose more feathers on her head and is thinning out elsewhere.

Any ideas??

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Does she have lice or mites?

 

[Hen Hilton]

I wouldnt think so. they are treated regularly and none of the other hens are affected with the same problem she has.
To my knowledge she hasnt laid for the past 3 years either.
Its almost like shes reached old age prior to the first moult.