Chicken looks rough!

[TLH66]

One of my hens looks terrible. She has bald patches on he back and head. She is still laying. My other 2 hens look fine, full feather no balding. I'm not sure if this is molding this late in the season. Mites or feather picking. HelpView attachment 1201005

 

[Dawnclucks22]

It looks like it could just be molting - my RIR is molting right now too.

 

[micstrachan]

There may be momting, but I also think there is at least some picking going on. I see at least one broken feather. If you sit with themlong enough for them to sort of forget you are there, you will see if there is picking.

 

[coach723]

My first reaction was "rooster damage" as those are both areas that can be damaged during mounting. You don't say you have a roo, so if you don't, I would suspect either a dominant hen is practicing mounting behavior or you have feather picking going on. I don't see any pin feathers (new feathers coming in) on the head, and looks like maybe some on the back, but looks like broken feather shafts also. Also looks like some small peck wounds on the comb, so there may be both molt and picking going on. She may be the lowest in the pecking order and getting picked on, so you need to spend some time observing to see what is exactly going on and who the perpetrator is. The most common cause of behavior like this is over crowding, so I would also look at your set up and see if you can modify to allow them more space, both in the run and the coop, depending on where the issue is. More space with places to get away from each other can help. You can also try some 'chicken boredom busters" which may help, you can google for lots of ideas.
For feather growth, feeding a higher protein feed can help. If they are on layer feed which is 16% protein, you can switch to a flock raiser or grower that is 18 - 20% protein, just be sure to have oyster shell available free choice all the time in a separate dish/feeder to provide the needed calcium, they will take what they need. If she's molting, then the feathers should start filling in, if not then they may not fill in until the next molt.

 

[Sassysouth]

I think she is being picked on based on that comb. She will need time to heal and a safe place. Hopefully you can find peace, I was never able to and kept the victim and rehomed the others.

 

[TLH66]

3 rooster from the neighbors farm come over daily to hang with my girls. They are free range but the coop is small it's 2ft x 2ft on main floor and a side room 2ft x 1ft. I have 2 speckled orpingtons and the chicken in the picture. I'm guessing I need to build another room off the side to expand floor space.

 

[chickens really]

That explains the Damage...The Roosters are wearing off her feathers..