Molting, Feather Picking, Mites?

[raisingthelma]

Hi all, looking for any input on this as it's my first year with chickens. One of my hens (9 mos. old Australorp) has a small bald patch on her back (you can only see it if you push the feathers aside). It looks like she has new feathers growing in around that area. I saw one of the hens earlier today eat one of her feathers from that area.

She was broody from early January to mid February. She is back to eating normal, laying eggs, her comb is fully red again too. All the other hens are happy and healthy, no one else is losing any feathers. She has been dust-bathing like normal. I don't see any lice or mites. It's the only area where she's missing any feathers. Is this just feather picking? Is this just a small localized molt post-broody spell?

@Eggcessive Any thoughts?

 

[sourland]

Looks like what you observed - feather pecking/plucking. Monitor to make sure that it does not escalate.

 

[raisingthelma]

Looks like what you observed - feather pecking/plucking. Monitor to make sure that it does not escalate.

@sourland Some of the feathers in the area are only half gone, as if someone just plucks half a feather and eats it. Anything I should do? They've been living in this situation for 4 months now with no issues. I kind of wonder if it is because she was broody for so long and now she is having a hard time getting readjusted to the group. Should I get one of those saddles for her back to protect it?

 

[sourland]

I'd be more inclined to temporarily put Pin Less Peepers on the bird you saw plucking her.

 

[raisingthelma]

I'd be more inclined to temporarily put Pin Less Peepers on the bird you saw plucking her.

@sourland thank you for your input! I will give that a try!