missing feathers - bullying?

[Nuggetirl]

I noticed that my silkie's feathers were looking different on her back, but I checked and they just seemed a little sparse. Today she has a big bald patch.

I have three bantam hens. They live indoors, but I try to let them out every day. I have never seen any bullying other than when I integrated the newest one in the coop. Since then everything has been quiet and I haven't seen ANY bullying. the silkie doesn't act like she's nervous, and I never hear any one squawking excessively.

Is this bullying? What do I do? How do you know who's doing the bullying (though, I could take a guess) if I never actually see anyone bullying?

 

[chicken11602]

She is probably molting.

 

[Nuggetirl]

I should also mention she's 5ish months old.

 

[cafarmgirl]

To me it looks like the feathers have been pulled out. If she was molting, which she's young for, you should see the pin feathers growing in rather then empty holes where the feathers were.