Bald spot on chick?

[qopt]

My 4 week old chick has a big bald spot on her neck. It doesn’t look like there is any blood around that area, and I haven’t seen any bloody spots.
Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Or is it something to look into?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

My 4 week old chick has a big bald spot on her neck. It doesn’t look like there is any blood around that area, and I haven’t seen any bloody spots.
Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Or is it something to look into?

View attachment 2075782

That’s not really normal to have a bald spot. I wouldn’t worry though if it’s not bloody or red. Do you have some thing that she may be rubbing against? What type of heat source do you have in your brooder?

 

[azygous]

Examine the chicks for bugs. Look around the vent area. Where are the chicks being brooded? Are they under a white light? Bright white light, especially if it is on 24/7, can encourage cannibalism.

 

[qopt]

That’s not really normal to have a bald spot. I wouldn’t worry though if it’s not bloody or red. Do you have some thing that she may be rubbing against? What type of heat source do you have in your brooder?

250 watt bulb, but it’s on the far end of the brooder, and I am using a dimmer switch to lower the heat each week.
The brooder is big enough so nothing could be rubbing against any chicks. I am slightly concerned but she’s still eating and drinking and from what I saw, she’s not being picked out.

 

[qopt]

Examine the chicks for bugs. Look around the vent area. Where are the chicks being brooded? Are they under a white light? Bright white light, especially if it is on 24/7, can encourage cannibalism.

The chicks are being brooder in a 100 gallon cow trough, there’s *almost* 2 square feet per chick and I only have 5 chicks. I am using a red light that is dimmed.

 

[qopt]

I am using a red 250 watt bulb that is being dimmed each week by a dimmer switch. I doubt they’re too hot, since some sleep under the light, some sleep in the middle. Basically- they’re all sleeping comfortably.
There’s enough room for each chick to have 1 sq foot to themselves and then some.
The chick in question is eating, drinking, playing, everything a healthy chick should do.
I have not seen any of the chicks severely pecking at each other. I might see a peck here and there but nothing that is feather pulling.
The chick is only 4 weeks old, I assumed it was just fuzz going away and feathers coming in. Some of the other ones have slight un-noticeable bald spots that you can only see if you’re really looking.
Hers is only visible when (you can see in the picture) I lift up the feathers covering it, or when she’s stretching out her neck.

 

[azygous]

As you've ruled out environmental factors, then it's normal to have thin or bare spots, as you've already concluded, as the down is being replaced by feathers. I wouldn't be too concerned, but do keep an eye on it in case it gets worse. But I wouldn't expect it to amount to anything.

 

[qopt]

As you've ruled out environmental factors, then it's normal to have thin or bare spots, as you've already concluded, as the down is being replaced by feathers. I wouldn't be too concerned, but do keep an eye on it in case it gets worse. But I wouldn't expect it to amount to anything.

Hopefully it will go away once she’s fully feathered. Only 2 weeks to go!