Pecking? Or something else?

[DanaSue11]

This BSL is about a year old and acting totally normal. I noticed yesterday that she is missing some feathers on the right side of her neck. The skin is not inflamed or red and most of the feathers have been completely pulled. I believe she is at the top of the pecking order. Do you think this is pecking damage or something else? Nightly, she and another hen battle out position on the roost, but I've never seen the other hen peck at her.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She could be beginning to molt, either a full body molt or a partial neck molt. Has she stopped laying?

 

[DanaSue11]

She could be beginning to molt, either a full body molt or a partial neck molt. Has she stopped laying?

I had that thought, as well. She laid yesterday. I did see two what look like to be new feathers, or broken feathers, in the bald area, but that's it. I checked for mites and lice and she seems to be ok, although I will check a few times today. I'm not super worried about her because she's acting just fine. Chickens are new to me, so molting is too!

Thank you!

 

[aart]

I have a few birds that engage in what appears to be consensual pecking around the neck and head, especially birds with beards/muffs.
Their beards are gone and they have bare patches on their necks...they just stand there and let the other bird pick feathers..doesn't seem to be adversarial at all.

 

[DanaSue11]

She now has some feathers on her breast that are sticking out at a funny angle and won't seem to flatten down. I bet it's the beginning of molt. I have such a harmonious little group it's hard to imagine them pecking at each other! Time will tell if it's a molt or not...

 

[Justagurllll]

I would assume molt as well .. she looks extremely healthy and she is at that age!