I got two Australorps late November/early December last year because they were being bullied in their original flock. One hen had an entirely bare tail/back (and the skin is red, although this might be because of the sun - Aussie heat). I thought this was because she was being bullied but now I'm not sure if it's a health issue or if she's plucking. She's in with Silkies and while she's quite shy, she's definitely the boss of them, so she's not getting bullied. She has been laying every day since we got her and her eggs are healthy afaik, they have thick shells at least. She's on Golden Yolk layer pellets and gets to free range every day, and I've also been giving them extra mealworms because I heard that they might eat their feathers if they're protein deficient.
My main question is if there are any health or diet issues that would cause feathers falling out in a specific spot like this. All of her other feathers look healthy and glossy, and she hasn't shown any signs of illness other than this. I have also seen some feathers grow back - not the white pins, but the fluffy grey-ish feathers that are under their glossy feathers. Not sure what they're called, sorry. I haven't noticed whether they're the same feathers or if she's plucking them and they're regrowing.
If she is plucking, what are my options? Would those chicken saddles stop her from plucking? What normally causes it - lack of enrichment/stress/etc? She's got dust baths and perches, and she makes frequent use of both.
Also I should mention that my roos do mate with her, but have never caused feather loss in any of my other chickens, so I doubt it's due to them.
My main question is if there are any health or diet issues that would cause feathers falling out in a specific spot like this. All of her other feathers look healthy and glossy, and she hasn't shown any signs of illness other than this. I have also seen some feathers grow back - not the white pins, but the fluffy grey-ish feathers that are under their glossy feathers. Not sure what they're called, sorry. I haven't noticed whether they're the same feathers or if she's plucking them and they're regrowing.
If she is plucking, what are my options? Would those chicken saddles stop her from plucking? What normally causes it - lack of enrichment/stress/etc? She's got dust baths and perches, and she makes frequent use of both.
Also I should mention that my roos do mate with her, but have never caused feather loss in any of my other chickens, so I doubt it's due to them.