Chicken Behavior

[Sonoma Gal]

Thank you for this info. I hope to have photo/(s) posted 12/19. It is progressing from both sides of neck now straight down the middle beneath neck/chin. Again, thanks

Possibly overzealous grooming. Does Bella usually have muffs or a beard?

Bella is a easter egger and has muffs

 

[rosemarythyme]

Bella is a easter egger and has muffs

So what happens with bearded birds is they often get food bits stuck on the beard, and others groom them to the point that the feathers get yanked out. It's not aggression and doesn't really bother them any.

With Lizzie, it may be similar behavior carried over to her even though she doesn't look to have a beard or muffs. Or if she's the low bird in the pecking order it might be damage from a high ranked bird tearing out a mouthful of feathers here and there.

You could try pinless peepers on the aggressor(s) to see if that improves things, or anti-pick lotion like Pick no More (though that needs to be applied frequently, and it can stain). Or if that's the extent of the damage I'd probably just live with it, as long as it didn't worsen to them picking other areas.

 

[Sonoma Gal]

Thank you for this input. Lizzie was relegated to the bottom roost for about 2 weeks. Just last week she's being allowed back onto the top roost with the other five. I will keep an eye on this situation. I have seen what you described above but did not know the root cause of the others pecking. Have a good week ahead. Thanks again for your thoughts!