Weird chicken bald spot

[Cockadoodie]

I have a Plymouth rock hen with a strange rectangular shape baldness at the neck. You don't even see it unless head is fully raised. It's been a week and I see her scratch it. It's not filling back in, and looks almost red today. Pics aren't great but gives an idea. Could it be a medical problem or just a pecking wound? Even from a duck possibly? These were taken when it wasnt reddish yesterday. Today it's redish

 

[alinas2010]

Could you get pictures that are a little clearer and close up on the bald spot? Have you checked her for lice and mites?

If she is getting her feathers plucked out by her flock mates, and they’re just breaking, they may not grow back in until she molts again.

 

[Cockadoodie]

Could you get pictures that are a little clearer and close up on the bald spot? Have you checked her for lice and mites?

If she is getting her feathers plucked out by her flock mates, and they’re just breaking, they may not grow back in until she molts again.

Thanks, I will attempt more pics. It's getting worse, and now another chicken around the back neck. What does molting look like in the beginning?

 

[alinas2010]

Thanks, I will attempt more pics. It's getting worse, and now another chicken around the back neck. What does molting look like in the beginning?

Molting looks…like your chickens are going bald. It does usually start around the neck. Then other spots such as the back or wings will loose feathers. Soon large wing and tail feathers will drop off, too. Some chickens don’t drop everything and just drop patches.

Here is the start of a hard molt:

Shortly after the feathers fall out, you’ll see pin feathers start to poke through their skin. This is what one of mine looked like during molt when her new feathers started poking through. During a molt supplementing protein such as scrambled eggs or canned, rinsed chicken or tuna can help with the feather regrowth.

But if you’re unsure, do check your chicken really well for lice. You can see them in warm spots such as under the wings and by the vent. Do you have a rooster who would pull feathers out while mating?

 

[Cockadoodie]

Molting looks…like your chickens are going bald. It does usually start around the neck. Then other spots such as the back or wings will loose feathers. Soon large wing and tail feathers will drop off, too. Some chickens don’t drop everything and just drop patches.

Here is the start of a hard molt:
View attachment 4072081View attachment 4072082
Shortly after the feathers fall out, you’ll see pin feathers start to poke through their skin. This is what one of mine looked like during molt when her new feathers started poking through. During a molt supplementing protein such as scrambled eggs or canned, rinsed chicken or tuna can help with the feather regrowth.View attachment 4072076

But if you’re unsure, do check your chicken really well for lice. You can see them in warm spots such as under the wings and by the vent. Do you have a rooster who would pull feathers out while mating?

Great info and pics thanks. I do have a rooster , he is so fast I don't see time for a single peck lol. But he does poke at a hen he doesn't want to roost by him. 11 hens and 1 rooster. All hens are 1 yr old. He is 2 or 3yrs. The pecking order changes nightly? Not sure if that's normal? All happy and kind. No one has molted yet so I'm hoping this could be time for it?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A roooster does not generally damage a hen's feathers by pecking, but rather by pulling or holding. He'll get hold of a hen by the back of the head or neck when he mounts her, and this tells her to move her tail to the side. Some roosters seem to be able to do this without damaging the feathers while others do leave bald patches on the head or back of the neck. Some that are very rough can even wound or scalp hens. But loss of feathers on the side of the neck like your hen has does not look like breeding behavior to me. I can't explain it.

 

[Cockadoodie]

A roooster does not generally damage a hen's feathers by pecking, but rather by pulling or holding. He'll get hold of a hen by the back of the head or neck when he mounts her, and this tells her to move her tail to the side. Some roosters seem to be able to do this without damaging the feathers while others do leave bald patches on the head or back of the neck. Some that are very rough can even wound or scalp hens. But loss of feathers on the side of the neck like your hen has does not look like breeding behavior to me. I can't explain it.

Thank you, I've been looking for mites too, haven't seen any? Is it normal to pick and preen on the roost? I will go in after dark and first one with then several hens start preening n such?