Please help - why is my head hen balding??

[hen-nessey]

My head hen is balding like this in the same area on each side. It’s like it happened overnight. I didn’t get to inspect her for mites/lice at sundown and I’m concerned. No rooster, no other hens are having this. No one’s pecking her visible skin. She’s still laying and only recently started, she’s only 7-8mo. Any thoughts??

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

That looks like a plucking job to me. Depending on who your plucker(s) is, you might have other hens who also has that, but aren't showing yet because the plucker is just getting started.

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Mites leave those sort of bald spots on my birds. Check near the vent and her fluff under her vent for any signs of bugs. You should be able to spot them in the
day.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I would think it's mites or lice. They don't directly cause this, the hen does. The bugs congregate under the tail, usually around the vent area, and the hen ends up pulling feathers out trying to get to them.

 

[hen-nessey]

Mites leave those sort of bald spots on my birds. Check near the vent and her fluff under her vent for any signs of bugs. You should be able to spot them in the
day.

If I determine it’s mites or lice, what have you done to effectively treat them?