Baby female Rhode Island Red has a bald spot on chest

[ElfenLied89]

Hey there. As the title suggests, our family has a Rhode Island Red we got from Tractor Supply about a week ago. We have a total of 7 chicks including her. She has adequate heating, space, food, water, and she gets plenty of attention from my older kids and myself. She is held for a few minutes a few times a day. Today, we noticed her feathers were pretty much missing from her chest. Right where her front chest meets her neck. Is this normal? She is, I am going off the age they stated when we bought her, around a week old.

 

[LTAY1946]

Can you post a picture please? And Welcome to BYC!

 

[K0k0shka]

Yes, a picture would really help. One thing I can think of that often looks like feathers missing on the chest, is actually on the crop. The crop area isn't feathered the same as the rest of the body. When the crop is filled and expands, it stretches the skin, creating gaps in the feathering. It can really look like patches of missing feathers, when it's just stretched skin. You can do an experiment and take the chicks' food away after they go to bed, and check this chick's chest area in the morning before you bring the food back, when its crop is empty.

 

[ElfenLied89]

Hey there. As the title suggests, our family has a Rhode Island Red we got from Tractor Supply about a week ago. We have a total of 7 chicks including her. She has adequate heating, space, food, water, and she gets plenty of attention from my older kids and myself. She is held for a few minutes a few times a day. Today, we noticed her feathers were pretty much missing from her chest. Right where her front chest meets her neck. Is this normal? She is, I am going off the age they stated when we bought her, around a week old.

 

[ElfenLied89]

Can you post a picture please? And Welcome to BYC!

Picture posted and thank you! We recently became a chicken family and have 7 baby hens. We wanted 4. Lol.

 

[ElfenLied89]

Yes, a picture would really help. One thing I can think of that often looks like feathers missing on the chest, is actually on the crop. The crop area isn't feathered the same as the rest of the body. When the crop is filled and expands, it stretches the skin, creating gaps in the feathering. It can really look like patches of missing feathers, when it's just stretched skin. You can do an experiment and take the chicks' food away after they go to bed, and check this chick's chest area in the morning before you bring the food back, when its crop is empty.

I posted a picture if it helps. Recently became a chicken mom so I know nothing and am learning as I go. The bird in question is named Ember.

 

[rural mouse]

That is the crop area.

 

[ElfenLied89]

That is the crop area.

And this is just normal baby chick stuff? New to the chicken scene lol.

 

[rural mouse]

And this is just normal baby chick stuff? New to the chicken scene lol.

Yep, it's normal. They also shed out the chick down through their new feathers, making them look like fugly velociraptors.

 

[LTAY1946]

Picture posted and thank you! We recently became a chicken family and have 7 baby hens. We wanted 4. Lol.

Beautiful baby. I see nothing to worry about. Just watch him eat and grow.