White spots on head of Hyline (after 1.5 years)?

[ChookaPete]

Just a few days ago I noticed on one of my Hyline hens, Clover, that she had these distinct white spots on her head, behind her comb.

They were NOT there a week ago (as pictured below).

I thought she may have been pecked or something was stuck there, but upon closer inspection the spots are actually in her coat - small white dots in the feathers, amongst the brown of the rest of the feathers. It is almost like somebody has used some white-out to dab little white dots on her head.


Is this white colouring pattern normal after 1.5 years old? Or is she ill?

 

[nuthatched]

It could be a scar, chickens frequently have white feathers from scars.

 

[lobbstertael]

I have had chickens get progressively lighter with age, especially my mottled d'uccle. Also my black runner duck is 2 years old and his green head is generously speckled with white. Just another thing to discover about our birds, imo!

 

[ChookaPete]

I managed to get some photos of the spots yesterday.

You can see here that the "spots" are actually white patches on parts of the feathers on the back top of her head.

Clover was NOT impressed with me taking pictures of those white spots! I think this is the moodiest I have ever seen of her!

 

[nuthatched]

Just feather down

 

[CoopBoots]

Looks like she's lost a few feathers further up her head (towards the comb) exposing her white down underlayer. Like Nuthatched is saying She might be doing a mini-molt or someone is pecking or grabbing at her head feathers, like during mating.

 

[CoopBoots]

Example: This pullet looks like she's going dark, or black, on her head, but it is just the differently colored down where she is missing chunks of covering feathers further up. In this case, it is due to breeding grabs and some bullying from a particularly nasty hen I have since removed.

 

[ChookaPete]

Just feather down

Thanks!

 

[ChookaPete]

Looks like she's lost a few feathers further up her head (towards the comb) exposing her white down underlayer. Like Nuthatched is saying She might be doing a mini-molt or someone is pecking or grabbing at her head feathers, like during mating.

Thank you! I don't think anyone is pecking her - if anything SHE has been pecking at other chooks to defend her baby chicks! She pecks, chases them! I've never seen her so aggressive! Often she is quite timid, in fact she was a victim of severe bullying in the past.

Yes so I guess the white bits are from molting then. She did molt earlier this year when she was broody in January, but I guess not from her head at the time.

There is no mating, as I don't have a rooster in the flock (I am the equivalent of the rooster).

 

[ChookaPete]

View attachment 4105152
Example: This pullet looks like she's going dark, or black, on her head, but it is just the differently colored down where she is missing chunks of covering feathers further up. In this case, it is due to breeding grabs and some bullying from a particularly nasty hen I have since removed.

Oh poor thing. I am glad the situation has been resolved.