It's true I bred Silkies. I've never experienced bare bottoms not caused by me cleaning pasty butt or something to that effect..
Nope not a show girl, I got her from a friend that got them at TSC for Easter. She had them for 2 days before I got them. She had a bare butt when I got her too. She is almost 4 weeks by my math of when my TSC gets their shipments of birds, they're on the DuMor 24% starter, I put hydro hen in their water, theres 3 other flock mates with her, all the same breed and age. Walks normal and everything. I dont have a broody hen so always in the brooder. Drinker is the 1 qt jar and base you get at TSC. Pine flakes from TSC (the ones in the white bags) They can get away from the lamp for the most part, theres shady areas. I know I need to upgrade their brooder and they would've been in my brooders I used for my first round of chicks but we had some hiccups with getting the coops and run set up.It's true I bred Silkies. I've never experienced bare bottoms not caused by me cleaning pasty butt or something to that effect..
Some more clues can be helpful in determining cause and if there is any cause for concern, so please answer some questions..
Firstly can I presume the chick is not of the showgirl variety? Where did it come from and how long ago was that? What is the age of the chick, current feed including treats and supplements, and how many flock mates, are they same age and variety? Does the chick walk normal and everything? Ever been with a broody or always in the brooder? What kind of drinker? What type of bedding? Can they get away from the heat coming from the lamp?
Sorry so many questions! I would generally consider it not too much of an issue and more of an anomaly but my questions should help to determine if there is anything that could be changed on your part that I/we can identify.
We all deal with this..
Honestly I'm not sure on how to sex chicks without a cockadoodle door especially silkies. We were thinking since it's super docile and easy to handle and my roo is not. If it is a roo I can keep it as long as it doesnt attack us allWe all deal with this..
According to the information given.. you have NO cause for alarm and no possibility of external parasites either.
I would consider it a genetic anomaly... since you aren't seeing any other symptoms that cause alarm.
I would NOT worry about what appears to be dry skin and would just leave it alone. we all flake crazy amounts of dead skin cells and chicks are no exception.. the amount of dander they put out is also tremendous. So as long as it isn't red, cracked and inflamed... I would probably think it's just easier to see on the dark skinned chick especially with the bare spot... That bare spot may or may not fill in during the little mini molts on the way to maturity.
Truly surprised to hear they use 24% feed... that's not bad.. (think they had too much backlash from not selling an appropriate turkey poult feed even though they were selling them.) 22% is actually plenty for chickens... I personally don't prefer the Dumor feeds and like the Purina Flock Raiser.. but it should not be an issue. Just wanted to make sure it was higher than 18% protein and had plenty of amino acids... since feathers are made from 90% protein and it's amino acids and there was a bare spot in question... and some folks aren't well enough informed yet to realize that scratch is just a treat. Consider just adding oyster shell when your ladies approach laying age instead of switching to "layer" feed.. this allows them to take what calcium they need but but avoid what they don't..
Sounds like you've got this handled and your being aware and vigilant will go FAR to prevent any future issues before they become disasters.
Very hopeful for you to call your Silkie "her".. Since I know they aren't sexed at TSC... is it throwing any clues yet to gender.. and will you be able to keep of it's a cockerel? White Silkies are striking and beautiful.
