Any ideas to help this poor chicken. Just noticed this over the past few days.
14 week old EE
We don't have any roosters, she has always seemed to be one of our dominant birds, so I don't think the others are picking, only one spot, so likely not molting, maybe picking herself?
Overcrowding?
We have currently have 8 pullets from 12-14 weeks in a 60 sq foot run with free ranging most days. The coop is a little small, 15 sq feet. We are planning to reduce the flock to 4-6 once they start laying, but may need to do it sooner?
Heat stress/molting?
No other affected chickens so far.
It looks like feather picking, most likely due to overcrowding.
More room is always better. While dimensions are debatable, general rule of thumb for large fowl (this looks like what you have) is 4sq ft per bird in the coop and 10sq ft in the run. At 15sqft your coop is too small for 8 birds (this only give about 1.8sq ft per bird). The run is a bit small for them as well giving about 7.5sq ft for the 8 birds, plus side is you are able to free range some.
To be honest with a coop your size 4 birds would the max I would try. So if you can reduce your numbers that will help. Heat, stress from a lot of noise and overcrowding can definitely cause this type of aggression.
Now, in the meantime, until you can get some of your birds re-homed, if you haven't done so, place a few perches/roosts in the run, this will give the birds a way to somewhat get away from each other a little more. Keep them busy - hang a cabbage, a bundle of kale, apple, etc., in the run for them to pick at. A suet basket or two hung at opposite ends of the run filled with greens/cucumber, etc., may work well too. If you have clean leaves, pine needles, or can pull weeds, etc., for them to scratch through in the run, that will help too. Another thing to try is have two separate "treat areas". When I give mine their "treat" of wet mash mixed with fruits/veggies, I use two containers (plates/bowls) and put them somewhat away from each other. This allows for everyone to spread out more and there is no real bossy behavior like you get with just one container. The object is to have everyone busy working on something instead of someone.
Roosting time will be more of a challenge in a small coop, they can really go at each other. Can you add another roost by chance, keep all your ventilation open, if you can, add a fan at a window to help move air, they may be hot and grumpy.
As far as the bare backs, for any sores, you can apply some plain neosporin or blukote, at their age the feathers may still come back in, if not they will come back in when they molt. You can cover the bare backs with a chicken saddle/hen apron if it becomes a major problem.
Just my thoughts - hope it helps.
