Good question, and thank you for asking! Unfortunately, I can't answer your question; I'm merely in the same boat.
I had a lovely roo who wore the feathers from his favorite hen's back last spring. She's a regular couch, who could blame him!
She has yet to show signs of feathering in on her saddle. The skin was never broken; her feathers were worn off. I'm wondering the same - will she feather in when she molts - she's 15 months old. The only other thing that could have happened with my hen is that the follicles were so damaged that no feathers can regrow. But I doubt that as the skin was never broken.
In my hen's case, her nutritional needs have been met right along. She eats quality layer pellets, has access to oyster shell, and grazes clover daily. So, I dunno why she hasn't feathered in.
The only thing I could add is that another hen that had "love burns," in her case, on her delicious neck, did indeed regrow her feathers on her neck when she had a mini-molt. She was bald for a couple of months.
Looking forward to responses from others...
And best wishes with your de-frocked hen!
