Molting or something else?

[cheitz20]

I just noticed that one of my 1 year old hens has a bare spot on the front of her neck (apologies for the bad pics, she wasn’t very cooperative). I know that chickens usually molt in the fall, and they’re pretty young still too, not sure if this is an early molt or something else. None of my 5 other hens have any bare spots, and I checked for mites under her wings and around her head, and there was no sign of any parasites. The skin isn’t red, despite what the pictures look like, and I don’t see any pin feathers growing back. It just looks bare.

 

[Eggcessive]

Hard to tell. Is she just 1 year or closer to 18 months when she should be molting her first time? If not molting, spend some time with them as they hang around and later when on the roost, trying to get the best spots, when the others might be picking out her feathers. If they are overcrowded, or are not getting enough protein in their feed (or getting too many treats or scratch that can happen,) feather picking can occur. BluKote spray is a blue staining spray that will temporarily hide the bare or pink skin and mY help to prevent more picking. Pinless peepers may work if you can determine which one might be feather picking. Also, I would look her skin under the vent, neck, and wings for lice or mites.