Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi, one of my speckledy hens has had a bald patch on her chest for ages. She is bottom in the pecking order of my three hens although I haven't seen the others pecking her there. Could she be pecking herself ? There doesn't seem to be a pest problem. Yesterday I sprayed her chest with gentian violet which she immediately started pecking at ending up with a purple beak. She looks healthy and lively although her eggs are rough to the touch and are messy when cracked for cooking (specks of blood) compared to the other two hens. Anyone had a similar problem ? Lesleyann.