My hen's bottom is bald... Are my other hens pecking at her?

[minnieappolis]

My black australorp, Helen, very curiously has a bald butt. It's been like this for a week. My thinking is that the hens are getting bored and testy with each other, as we've had them penned up more often than normal for the past couple of weeks - it's been too cold and rainy. But this is such an odd place to pluck at, whether she's doing it herself or not. I'm not sure what to think. I've never seen the others harass her so I'm not sure. Do bully chickens peck at bottoms like this? Anything I can do to help her?

Other than this the flock has been looking healthy as ever. What do you think?

 

[junebuggena]

Molting?

 

[minnieappolis]

Well, she's only 7 months old... I thought molting didn't normally occur until they're a bit older.

 

[Muscoweewee]

Well, she's only 7 months old... I thought molting didn't normally occur until they're a bit older.

I think that it could be because a dominant hen is pecking her, (maybe to enforce the pecking order?). How long has she been in the flock? - if she's a new arrival, pecking is common.
I found a site that I think will be helpful
https://hencam.com/faq/bare-butts-feather-loss-and-feather-picking/

 

[minnieappolis]

Wow, thank you for the link! That's very interesting information.... Looks like I'll have to check the girls for lice. If not, I'm probably going to chalk it up to the dominant hen.

She was one of two chickens who started our flock. After they turned a month old, we added 4 more. Everyone has been living together now for about 6 months.