Is this molting?

[EggieRowe]

I have one Australorp hen that my rooster favors. (He favors all the Australorps, but this one in particular.) She has been missing the feathers on the back of her neck and base of tail for months from all the attention. Tonight while digging around for worms with them, I saw that her belly/vent area is now balding. I picked her up and she has no mites, lice, or wounds. The skin looks perfectly normal and healthy. I felt for any growths or abscesses under the skin - nada. Her vent looked normal too with no discharge. What else should I be looking for? I spray Vetrycin on the reddish skin at the tail. The skin isn't broken, but slightly irritated.

 

[americana-lover]

I do not think that is molting. I think your hen is getting picked on, usually by a rooster but it can also be done by a dominant hen. This is why people create chicken saddles. You should try making one.

 

[EggieRowe]

I do not think that is molting. I think your hen is getting picked on, usually by a rooster but it can also be done by a dominant hen. This is why people create chicken saddles. You should try making one. 

I've ordered one for her and we were trying to rehome the roo. Now it looks like he will become dinner.