Feral Chicken missing feathers on head

[Greanleaf76]

I live in Hawaii where feral chickens are common. A hen showed up recently with feathers missing on her head. Today she got close enough for me to get a picture. Anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I don’t know her history or what she looked like before. She is very active and enjoys scratching around in the leaves looking for worms and other tasty treats. I’m wondering if what she has might be contagious. I have 3 silkies who are confined to a spacious covered run due to hawks in the area. They are separate from the wild birds, but the wild flock is curious and will hang out near their run at times. Should I be concerned?

 

[CrazyCochin]

I live in Hawaii where feral chickens are common. A hen showed up recently with feathers missing on her head. Today she got close enough for me to get a picture. Anyone have any ideas of what this could be? I don’t know her history or what she looked like before. She is very active and enjoys scratching around in the leaves looking for worms and other tasty treats. I’m wondering if what she has might be contagious. I have 3 silkies who are confined to a spacious covered run due to hawks in the area. They are separate from the wild birds, but the wild flock is curious and will hang out near their run at times. Should I be concerned?

She could be the favorite of a certain rooster!
A few of our hens have bald or almost bald heads, mainly from the roosters doing their job, if she wasn't feral, I would put BluKote on her head.

And being that she's feral, there isn't much you can do unless you can catch her.

 

[CrazyCochin]

By the way, welcome to BYC!
Make yourself at home here, scratch, and peck around! (Pun intended) There will always be someone to help you out or perhaps make your day! The community is beyond welcoming!

 

[HawaiiCoyote]

She could be the favorite of a certain rooster!
A few of our hens have bald or almost bald heads, mainly from the roosters doing their job, if she wasn't feral, I would put BluKote on her head.

And being that she's feral, there isn't much you can do unless you can catch her.

x2, she is most likely the favorite of a neighborhood rooster. If you notice that she is bleeding, then I would try to catch her and apply blue~kote, rooster booster pick no more, or antibiotic ointment. if she is not bleeding, then she is probably fine> Just keep an eye on her for any injuries in the future.

 

[CrazyCochin]

x2, she is most likely the favorite of a neighborhood rooster. If you notice that she is bleeding, then I would try to catch her and apply blue~kote, rooster booster pick no more, or antibiotic ointment. if she is not bleeding, then she is probably fine> Just keep an eye on her for any injuries in the future.

What she said!

 

[Greanleaf76]

x2, she is most likely the favorite of a neighborhood rooster. If you notice that she is bleeding, then I would try to catch her and apply blue~kote, rooster booster pick no more, or antibiotic ointment. if she is not bleeding, then she is probably fine> Just keep an eye on her for any injuries in the future.

That’s a relief! Thanks for the reply. She did show up shortly after a rooster moved into to the area. There were only four hens frequenting our yard for the longest time. Then a couple of months ago the rooster showed up. I suspect he started hanging out with our four girls when his main ones went broody, because a short time later two hens show up with chicks. And then more hens including the one pictured. He’s wandering more, so I’m hopeful he will move the flock along soon.

 

[Greanleaf76]

Just wanted to provide an update. The hen, who I now affectionately call Teflon, is healing well. Watching her go through the healing process it’s clear now that it was an injury. I can’t imagine what she looked like before! Thanks again for the advice. Here’s a couple of pictures of Teflon taken today.