Ethel why are you naked??

[speckledhen]

When a broody goes "over the edge", she plucks her stomach/breast area so she has contact with the eggs. Maybe the feathers are just slow growing back? And also, sometimes a molt will leave them pretty darn naked for a long time.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Could she be under any mental stress? Poor dear!

 

[The Monkey Mama]

I feel for you! My sister has a black australorp just like this - she's been bald in patches since November. Otherwise she is healthy, happy and lays almost every single day [she lays 21 days straight, takes one day off and lays another 21 days!]. Her bald spots have moved over the months too, started as her belly being completely plucked, then her side, then her neck.

We jokingly say she has the "chicken mange" because that's what it looks like. She has no mites, no rooster, lots of fun, tons of food, extreme amounts of protein... at this point we've tried it all.

Its a new chicken disease or something! LOL! We've never found anyone who can explain it either, but it doesn't bother her. I'm starting to wonder if she just has skin sensitivity issues or something, kinda like excema in people, because she seems very happy and healthy otherwise [she's a very friendly hen].

If you ever find an answer, PM me!

Oh, also I think your hen will be fine even if she's half naked in the winter here in the south - my sister's hen did just fine here in GA.

Kelly