Wondering what the cause of feather loss on head

[MuscaDomestica]

Microraptor seems to be loosing feathers on her head. She is the lowest in the pecking order so I am not sure if it is mites or just being picked on.
Her vent doesn’t look unusual it is just her head.

 

[PoultryCQ]

Microraptor seems to be loosing feathers on her head. She is the lowest in the pecking order so I am not sure if it is mites or just being picked on.
Her vent doesn’t look unusual it is just her head.

Do you have a cockerel or rooster?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Looks pretty typical of a rooster grabbing her to mount or other hens doing the same.

 

[Ebony Rose]

She appears to be a rooster's favorite girl.

 

[MuscaDomestica]

No rooster... just three other chickens. Haven't seen any mounting behavior.

 

[PoultryCQ]

No rooster... just three other chickens. Haven't seen any mounting behavior.

Pictures of your chickens? What percent protein do you feed?

 

[MuscaDomestica]

16 percent naturewise, using BOSS and dried pheonix worms as treats along with foraging in the backyard. None of the other chickens have any major feather loss, all four are laying eggs.

There is a rooster down the street (suburb) but we just hear him call.

 

[PoultryCQ]

16 percent naturewise, using BOSS and dried pheonix worms as treats along with foraging in the backyard. None of the other chickens have any major feather loss, all four are laying eggs.

There is a rooster down the street (suburb) but we just hear him call.

Looking back at your original post, your hen is missing feathers on her beard. Your other hens are eating her feathers because 16 percent protein is just not enough. Feathers contain protein and chickens know it. 20% is perfect and slightly higher during molting season. She should get her feathers back during her molt.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I have one EE hen that likes to dominate an australorp hen and her head looks like that. It's a bullying issue. Just make sure she has plenty of options for feed and water and obstacles to help her get away.
You can try peck no more it's supposed to help, I haven't done that yet, but I have added a few more obstacles and the bullying seems to be settling down.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Looking back at your original post, your hen is missing feathers on her beard. Your other hens are eating her feathers because 16 percent protein is just not enough. Feathers contain protein and chickens know it. 20% is perfect and slightly higher during molting season. She should get her feathers back during her molt.

That's not always the case though, I have a brahma that "grooms" my EEs beards - apparently she doesn't think they should have beards since the rest of the chickens in the flock don't. My chickens are on 20% flock maker.
Sometimes observing our chickens makes a big difference as far as the behavior they exhibit.