Bare spots on the base of tail - No Rooster

[luvmychichics]

I am pretty new at the backyard chicken thing and have enjoyed every minute of it! I have had my 8 girls for a year now and am having 3 of them with bare spots at the base of their tails. I feed a layer crumble, once a week some meal worms, scratch a few days a week just thrown in the pen with them (sandy area 24"x20") Are they lacking something in their diet? I have 2 buff orpingtons, 2 barred rock, 1 red star , 1 bantam, 2 leghorns all raised together. During the day I do not see any aggression and I cannot find any mites....I am not sure what to do here.

 

[binza1979]

They could be starting a molt.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Yep, mine often start their moults by losing feathers at the base of the tail. Feel their feathers--are there any pin feathers in there?

 

[Cindy in PA]

If they are only a year old they are pretty young to molt. I got rid of my rooster in this batch from last year, in the fall so my hens would stay nice looking. Well the Welsummers have been pecky chickens & all 12 of my hens have spots in the back at their tale & many have few tail feathers. I only see them picking once in a while, but I know it is going on. Hope to cure it some when I start letting them out on the grass, but these chickens are the worst pickers in 20 years except for some RSLs I had a few years ago. So it could be feather picking.

 

[7L Farm]

I have this problem & personally think its a phase they go through. The reason I believe this is because my other two flocks went through this as well. Now there older & have all their feathers. Just make sure they don't draw blood.