Silkie or? has a bald neck and head

[jmcd]

Hi there,

So 2 things, I have this chicken and I am not sure what breed she is so any suggestions would be helpful. Also, in March she lost all of her feathers from her neck up. We have no rooster, none of the other hens have this issue, there are no bugs or any kind on her, in their coop or on the others. Initially we thought she was early molting but now she has been this way for 4 months so I do not think that is it. She is high in the pecking order so I do not think she would be picked on at all. I am attaching 2 pictures of her before and how she looks currently.

Any ideas??

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hi there,

So 2 things, I have this chicken and I am not sure what breed she is so any suggestions would be helpful. Also, in March she lost all of her feathers from her neck up. We have no rooster, none of the other hens have this issue, there are no bugs or any kind on her, in their coop or on the others. Initially we thought she was early molting but now she has been this way for 4 months so I do not think that is it. She is high in the pecking order so I do not think she would be picked on at all. I am attaching 2 pictures of her before and how she looks currently.

Any ideas??

Oh my I don't have an answer for you I wish i did so sorry

 

[Caffus]

Oh my I don't have an answer for you I wish i did so sorry

Hi there,

So 2 things, I have this chicken and I am not sure what breed she is so any suggestions would be helpful. Also, in March she lost all of her feathers from her neck up. We have no rooster, none of the other hens have this issue, there are no bugs or any kind on her, in their coop or on the others. Initially we thought she was early molting but now she has been this way for 4 months so I do not think that is it. She is high in the pecking order so I do not think she would be picked on at all. I am attaching 2 pictures of her before and how she looks currently.

Any ideas??

I do not know whats going on with her...but she looks like a Polish mixed with an Easter Egger to me. She is very pretty. I hope you find help for her.

 

[featheredplanets]

She is likely a Silkie mix.

Can’t help much with the feathers but chickens that are supposed to have bald places (naked neck/turken) don’t grow feathers in that place and moult them. So no, I don’t think she is supposed to be bald.

 

[Chicalina]

have you treated for mites? Even if you haven't found any I would treat the whole flock with a dusting of DE. Mites are a major cause of feather loss, and your hen might just be more susceptible than the others. Do they have earth dusting pits? Mine love digging holes in my lawn to make dusting pits!

 

[jmcd]

have you treated for mites? Even if you haven't found any I would treat the whole flock with a dusting of DE. Mites are a major cause of feather loss, and your hen might just be more susceptible than the others. Do they have earth dusting pits? Mine love digging holes in my lawn to make dusting pits!

Hi there, yes we treated for mites both inside the coop and outside in their run using DE and alternately with neem oil as well. We gave them all baths in a solution of water, neem oil and dishsoap. They also have 2 nice dust bath tubs in old tires with dirt, sand and wood ash plus they love to free range and dust bathe anywhere else in the yard when I let them out. So, I think we are covered in those areas... I recently lost 1 hen to what NV Dept of Ag says was likely Mareks which is crazy contagious and she was the same kind of chicken as this one. I am hoping this is not a symptom of Mareks. She is healthy in every other way.

 

[Chicalina]

I hope its not Mareks and that you get to the bottom of it soon