Young chicken losing chest feathers?

[operationindigo]

One of my girls is a little under a year old and has recently developed a small bald patch on her chest. It started out slow and subtle with a few feathers missing, and has become a bald patch a little bigger than a quarter. It's right in the center of her chest. She does not seem to be bothered at all by it. I have never seen her itch or try to pick at the spot, and I have never really even seen her try to itch or pick at her skin and feathers anywhere else. I looked at the skin and it does not seem to be irritated at all. It's a calm pale color with no sign of injury. Is this something I should be concerned about? My other hen is fine - no signs of itching, feather loss, etc.

They have access to a lot of material for dust baths, since we live in FL and the dirt in our area is mostly sand/dry soil. Do you think its okay to let this go and see what happens?

 

[Eggcessive]

Hens will sometimes start plucking out their own feathers if they are going broody. Check her for mites and lice.