Molting or sick?

[SnootyHen]

These are 2 different hens, both just over a year old with bald spots.

Karen has a bald underside

Wanda Beth has a bald spot on her saddle (I don't have a rooster) and has been losing and growing those feathers since she was about 4-5 months old.

 

[sourland]

It appears to be feather picking/plucking by flock mates.

 

[SnootyHen]

It appears to be feather picking/plucking by flock mates.

That's much better than bugs or pests for sure. Thanks!

 

[micstrachan]

I agree. Feather pecking. What do you feed them? When I had a feather pecker, increasing the protein in the feed slightly helped.

 

[SnootyHen]

I agree. Feather pecking. What do you feed them? When I had a feather pecker, increasing the protein in the feed slightly helped.

They're on Flock Raiser right now because Wanda Beth doesn't lay and the 5 pullets just started laying. They were on Layena before the babies moved into the coop and I planned to put them back on it now that 11 of the 12 are laying. They get some treats (mealworms and things like that) and I sometimes give them cheese or scrambled eggs and stuff but the majority of their diet is Flock Raiser.