Black Spots On Baby Chick

[silkie1472]

I have a male salmon faverolle chick that is about 3 weeks old. I noticed today that he had a large, black swelling/scab (maybe) on his left side. There are two other ones that are barely noticeable. They are all right behind his ear. What could it be??

 

[ShannonR]

IDK! Interesting.

 

[BlueEggsAndHam]

Maybe the other chicks are hurting him?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Maybe the other chicks are hurting him?

I have a male salmon faverolle chick that is about 3 weeks old. I noticed today that he had a large, black swelling/scab (maybe) on his left side. There are two other ones that are barely noticeable. They are all right behind his ear. What could it be??
View attachment 1737683

Looks like a scab from being picked on.

 

[silkie1472]

Well, I wouldn’t think that he’s getting picked on...there are 12 chicks in his brooder — 6 salmon faverolle pullets, 4 buff Cochin bantams, and a partridge Cochin pullet.

He’s the largest of them all really, and over see him getting picked on. I thought about fowl pox, but he acts perfectly fine.

It kind of reminds me of a bruise or something. Also, however, I know the breed (for roosters) have black muffs, and that is about where they come in. Hopefully it’s just pigmentation of future feathers.

 

[Shezadandy]

Well, I wouldn’t think that he’s getting picked on...there are 12 chicks in his brooder — 6 salmon faverolle pullets, 4 buff Cochin bantams, and a partridge Cochin pullet.

He’s the largest of them all really, and over see him getting picked on. I thought about fowl pox, but he acts perfectly fine.

It kind of reminds me of a bruise or something. Also, however, I know the breed (for roosters) have black muffs, and that is about where they come in. Hopefully it’s just pigmentation of future feathers.

Everything looks like feathers to me in that picture, but maybe I'm missing something. As they lose their baby fluff (how I hate to see it go) those dark feather shafts might just be about ready to poke through.

BTW …
I have a rooster that will stand there while the hens pluck out his beard and neck. Willingly. He hasn't had those feathers in so long I have to look at pictures when he was younger to remind myself what was once there. He's approaching 10lbs and it's the small little leghorn mixes that do it to him. What I'm getting at is not all picking is aggression from flockmates - sometimes it turns into a ritualize social behavior.

I bet you'll see a bunch of dark feathers pop out very soon.

 

[silkie1472]

I’m hoping that’s what it is. Right now they’re just slightly raised black spots, but hopefully it’s just black muffs starting to come in.

 

[silkie1472]

Okay, so the same chick that I posted last Saturday with the large black spot has not improved. He is still eating, drinking, and playing just fine, but he is developing more sores. It made a big scab, then fell off. Now there is another large on with a couple smaller ones. What could this be?? He’s with 11 other chicks and they are all fine...

This is a picture of where the scab came off (I assume other chicks picked at it — there is swelling where the sores are).

Here’s a picture of some other spots/swellings
(yes there are some feathers coming in). The red is marker from the hatchery.

 

[silkie1472]

Anybody?? Please refer to post 8.

 

[Eggcessive]

I raised some salmon faverolles chickens, and the males (and females) can be very docile. I would suspect the other more aggressive chicks could be pecking him. Make sure that you have enough room in your brooder. At this age they are climbing, flying up to perch, and being very busy. Make sure they have some practice roosts, more than one feed station, and so e little things to climb on. Also be sure your brooder is covered with a screen for the adventurous ones. There is Nustock Cream, PickNoMore, pine tar, Vicks, bag balm, and other products found at feed stores and elsewhere that you can dab on the red spots to discourage pecking. Most of those will cover and taste bad so hopefully will help.