Baby chicks combs

[thiebert]

Can anyone tell me if it's normal for baby chicks to have a comb? I have never seen this before?

 

[thiebert]

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Those aren't combs. It looks like they are missing the fluff on their heads.

 

[3riverschick]

It looks like the chicks have been pecking each other on the head. Lose the white light and put in a red bulb. (not a heat blub). Just a nice 85 watt red floodlight ( not the rugged kind which can have a Teflon coating. If under a red light , the chicks will not see red spots to peck on other chicks.
Best,
Karen

 

[thiebert]

These are chicks that are for sale. I've just never seen chicks with little head heads before

 

[Jensownzoo]

Are you sure it isn't paint/livestock marker? Maybe someone marked them by sex.

 

[junebuggena]

It's paint/dye. One has a green mark. Combs aren't green, ever. It's done to identify breeds or gender in a mixed order

 

[SoCal-ludic]

Hi I was recently told that hatchery often put dot of color on one breed of chicks to distinguish for another breed that looks virtually identical.

 

[azygous]

Yes, I've gotten chicks with dots of color on their heads like that. It disappears as the feathers come in to replace the down. It's just food coloring so it may even wear off before then.

But if you notice in a week or so some chicks with rapidly developing combs, they may very well be cockerels since they get combs early.