A few days ago, my 10 month old white orpington hen developed a bald spot on the back of her neck. We had been finding lots of feathers around the run as of late, and her baldness seems to be getting worse. It's all over, but worst on her neck and head. Her poo seems normal, and I haven't seen any of the others peck at her. I can see long feather shafts where she's bald. I haven't seen her in the nesting box, but I can't tell for sure if she's stopped laying. None of the other 7 hens are showing signs of baldness, but a week ago a few hens were trying to eat the styrofoam insulation. They didn't ingest much, and we've got it covered up now. They've always got water and food, and there's a layer of snow on the ground. It's supposed to get really cold soon, and I'm worried for her. Our coop is insulated, but no lamps or heaters to help her out. Here are some pics.
Sorry, she wouldn't stay still for me to get a good picture. But if you look closely, you can see her bald spots. Could it be that she's molting early? What do you guys think? And also, how should I keep her comfortable? I don't want her to freeze! Thanks!
