Pecking order or mites?

[Mtn Cur]

I have a friend with 15 hens and no rooster in a adequate coop and run. One hen that was or is alpha has a large bald spot on the front of her neck. I can't see any parasites on any of the birds. And this hen did rule the roost. My friend went to check on them last night and she was facing towards the wall with all but three doing the same. The other three were on the top roost and facing the door- opposite of the rest of the hens. Also the three hens were center of the roost. Has these three changed the pecking order or is there a health problem?

 

[Backyard Hencam]

just wondering if the one whose loosing feathers on her neck could be beginning a moult?

 

[Noble Rooster]

I have an alpha hen with the exact same issue right now (plus a spot on her neck where it looks like the tip of a feather broke and got a little infected). She's a year old, and it's possible she's starting her molt. And regarding them facing different ways on the roost, mine sometimes do -- just seems to be how they settled in for the night and not an indication of anything more.

 

[Mtn Cur]

I don't know...haven't thought of that? The size of the spot is probably a little bigger than a half dollar and all the way to the skin.