Molting or picking or ??

[MomvdH]

This sweet chicken (about a year old) has had a bald neck for months now. There has never been blood, and I’ve never actually observed anyone pecking or picking her, but it’s what I suspect. No sign of bugs. It just won’t regrow. And now, today, we found some bald spots starting on her bottom, under her fluff. We decided to separate her for now, until we can figure out what’s going on. She’s separated within view of the flock. Just safer, if she is being pecked. Thoughts?

 

[dawg53]

It's probably feather picking and she's most likely at the bottom of the pecking order. In any case, if you havnt seen her feathers in the pen or coop, it means your other birds are eating the feathers which would indicate they need more protein in their diet. You can feed them gamebird feed which has about 22% protein. Give it to them for a month and then wean them back to layer feed.
You can give the bald neck hen the gamebird feed as well. Her feathers will regrow after molt, usually during or late autumn.
Even if it's a minor molt, you can give her and your other birds gamebird feed for a short time.

 

[MomvdH]

Thank you!