Is this pecking or molting?

Esrun

Songster
Jan 29, 2024
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Our top hen, Princess, has this bald spot. We were away for the weekend and when we returned this is what she looked like. No wounds just bald. We are still newer chicken owners. She has gone through a moly before but we only had three hens at the time (all bantams). Now we have a total of nine, and she is still very much a high ranking hen. The others are pullets around 3 months old (BOs, Australorps, and a Barred Rock). I’m leaning towards molting??
 

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Where is the bald spot? If it is on the head it is likely from mating. If it is so where else it’s likely pecking. If there was more than one I would say molting. Is she a heavily feathered hen? What kind is she?
 
Our top hen, Princess, has this bald spot. We were away for the weekend and when we returned this is what she looked like. No wounds just bald. We are still newer chicken owners. She has gone through a moly before but we only had three hens at the time (all bantams). Now we have a total of nine, and she is still very much a high ranking hen. The others are pullets around 3 months old (BOs, Australorps, and a Barred Rock). I’m leaning towards molting??
Do you have a rooster or cockerel?
 
Coop is ~4.5x10 and the run is ~10x12. We are in the process of adding an extension to the run making it an additional 10x15 ish. So when done it’ll be something like 20x15. We have 3 bantam hens and 6 pullets (~3 mo old). I’m fairly sure none of the pullets are cockerels and the bantams are for sure hens. We’ve had them several years.
How large is your coop and how many birds ? please.
 
Looks like pecking to me. A rooster would cause a bald spot between her wings and molting would make her look ragged all over. Furthermore, I don't think even if you had a cockerel it wouldn't be trying to mount a full grown hen at three months old. I could be wrong though I don't keep cockerels very long.
If she is a bantam she might be getting bullied just because of the sheer number of pullets and the change in flock dynamics.
 

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