Hen's head balding

[Crusty McPottydoodle]

I have 3 ISA brown hens. I understand that one is older than the other two (based on the fact that she has a much larger comb). Anyway, she seems to be balding near her comb. This is just in the last couple of days. Is it possible that she is moulting? The skin is not broken and she seems to be the dominant hen of the three, so I don't think she is getting pecked. Unfortunately, my girls had the beaks trimmed before I got them.

There is no sign of creepy-crawlies that I can see.

She is eating, drinking, laying and dust bathing - basically acting normal and happy. Her comb is a lovely red.

I could try and post a photo later (once I have someone here to help) but wanted to get some idea of how worried I should be.

Cheryl

 

[eggsrcool]

Do you have a rooster? If you do, then it could be mating.

 

[Crusty McPottydoodle]

nope, no roosters! Just the girls.

Cheryl

 

[eggsrcool]

Then perhaps mites or lice?

 

[Crusty McPottydoodle]

Quote:
I don't know - her head looks very clean. The skin has good colour and I don't see anything crawling around on her. I will give her a close inspection later. If she were infested with something, I would have thought it would show up on the other two fairly soon after.

Cheryl

 

[cluckychick]

I have a hen this way as well. She is a frizzle and this is the second time she's lost her feathers around her comb/head area. None of the other silkies or frizzles are this way. The first time I chalked it up to moulting and it all grew back and this time I have no clue as it's only been about 4 months since the last occurance. No sign of lice or mites and I regularly dust with de and occasionally sevin.

 

[Crusty McPottydoodle]

Quote:
So we just chalk it up to hen pattern baldness?

Cheryl

 

[cluckychick]

Quote:
So we just chalk it up to hen pattern baldness?

Cheryl

No clue