bare skin on new chicks

[chickenkid68]

I have 26 one week old chicks, 16 of them jumbo x rocks. A couple of the jumbo x rocks look like they are developing a bald spot under their bellies and it seems moist. Are they pecking themselves? Maybe from laying down eating so much?

Any comments would be appreciated. This is my first time raising chicks. Thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

My guess is that they are growing so fast their feathering cannot keep up. Check half way down on the first page of this link.



http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2308.pdf

 

[I'M On Island Time]

My leghorns looked AWFUL last week (about 4 wks old). They were between baby fuzz and feathers coming in fully...huge spots of pink skin showing. They are much better this week now that they are pretty much feathered out.

Just make sure your little ones are not pecking the bald spots, or the picking is causing them to lose feathers. Otherwise, I bet it is a temporary situation. If you look closely, you can probably see the regular feathers coming in and poking out of the skin.

 

[chickenkid68]

Okay, thank you so much for responding. I guess I am just a little worried. I have heard about people losing chicks, and am trying to do everything possible to not lose any! The whole family likes them!
Thanks again!

 

[cassie]

The Cornish X are going to look worse before they look better. They just grow so fast their feathers cannot keep up.