8 week-old chick, flaky skin??? Or feather flecks?

[ellenmg]

I am not a newbie with chicks but I recently acquired an 8 week old Silver Laced Polish. She was in a group before coming to me and she only weighs 9 oz and is very thin. SHe has had some of tips of her feathers bitten off, so I am not sure if she had difficulty getting to the food. She was lethargic the first few days but had perked up and is eating well now. My bigger concern is, she seems to be sloughing off what appears to be white bits of feather "stem" if that makes sense. Tiny bits and no they are not mites. I have examined them under a magnifier. She has not fully feathered in, being bald around her neck and under her wings. Anyone seen this before? Anything I can add to her diet?

 

[sourland]

I am going to guess that what you are seeing is sloughed off feather sheaths from pin feathers. If so, this is completely normal.