Bare Spot on Easter Egger

[Summerfield]

Hi! This Easter egger is just about a year old and lives with my small flock of 6 total hens. I raised them all together and don’t notice much if any picking or bullying. But I noticed this bare spot on her back and wonder if it’s molting, or disease, or picking. Their coop and run is 20 x 7 and they go outside supervised every day for an hour or so. Currently on 17% pellets with occasional scratch.

Edit to add: she’s eating, drinking, behaving normally but I don’t think she’s laying.

I have one other that’s molting and two others that molted a month ago.

Would love your thoughts.

 

[LoveMyPeepers]

Do you have a rooster?

 

[Summerfield]

Do you have a rooster?

I don’t just hens!

 

[LoveMyPeepers]

Interesting. Doesn't look like she is molting or being picked on because it is in one specific spot but is more than just a few pecked out feathers. Could it possibly be from some kind of attempt attack from another predator?

 

[debid]

There aren't any pins so that isn't normal shedding, she looks plucked to me. I don't see signs of lice/mites but it's a good idea to go at night and shine a light, look between the feathers, especially near her vent, to be sure.

What brand of feed are you using?

 

[debid]

I ask because organic feed mixes don't contain synthetic methionine and a deficiency there will trigger feather picking behaviors.