Are new feathers irritating?

[Realtree4]

My 4 day old chicks are getting their wing feathers and on some of them I noticed that they keep pulling on their own wings where the new feathers are coming in. I don't see mites/lice and I'm wondering if, like adult chickens, they pull on the sheaths to allow the new feathers come in? My polish chick seems especially irritated, but it's feathers are coming in fast!

I tried searching this site and also google and I can't find an answer.....

Note, they aren't pulling out any feathers, just pulling on that area.

 

[red horse ranch]

My 4 day old chicks are getting their wing feathers and on some of them I noticed that they keep pulling on their own wings where the new feathers are coming in. I don't see mites/lice and I'm wondering if, like adult chickens, they pull on the sheaths to allow the new feathers come in? My polish chick seems especially irritated, but it's feathers are coming in fast!

I tried searching this site and also google and I can't find an answer.....

Note, they aren't pulling out any feathers, just pulling on that area.

I think the sheath that the feather comes out of is protein and must taste good to them. And it releases the feather at the same time. All chickens will do this when they are growing new feathers. It's just part of their grooming ritual.

 

[Realtree4]

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

I think the sheath that the feather comes out of is protein and must taste good to them. And it releases the feather at the same time. All chickens will do this when they are growing new feathers. It's just part of their grooming ritual.

Thank you! That makes perfect sense. I see my hen does this with their pin feathers every once in a while so it makes sense that chicks would do that too.