Hen missing feathers

[Clara Jean]

My one year old hen is missing feathers from her back. It does not appear to be a normal molt. Anyone know what might be going on ?

 

[sourland]

Looks like one or more of her flock mates are feather pecking/plucking her.

 

[Clara Jean]

Thanks for the reply. Is there anything we can do to help her? Wondering if it could a pecking order thing?

 

[rosemarythyme]

What's your set up like? Confined to a run (how large) or free range? How many other birds?

What do you feed the flock?

 

[sourland]

It can be a nutritional thing (low protein levels in feed) but generally starts from boredom when chickens are confined during the winter.

 

[Clara Jean]

What's your set up like? Confined to a run (how large) or free range? How many other birds?

What do you feed the flock?

We have 6 hens in a formex snap lock coop in a 15x30 run. They eat dumor organic layer feed.

 

[rosemarythyme]

We have 6 hens in a formex snap lock coop in a 15x30 run. They eat dumor organic layer feed.

Might look into increasing protein % to see if that helps at all - most layer feed is 16%, so 18-20% could help.

What does the run look like? Are there things to do in there, or is it a big open rectangle?

Those snap lock coops aren't terribly large, right? If you don't see bullying or picking in the run, it may be happening inside the coop at night.