bloody tail feather on chick

[Nativo]

Hello,
I have new chicks they are now about 3 weeks old. One of them is picking at his tail feather and they look bloody. I know it could be mites, but they have never been outside or arround any other chicks. They came straight from the hatchery.

General health seems good, eating, drinking fine.

If it is mites what do I use to treat it? By the way, can you see mites?

Thank You
Kenny and Karlie

 

[cheeptrick]

Hello and WELCOME to BYC!!
Mites can look like small clear bugs which after a meal turn red. Poultry dust from feed store works good. Every chicken/bird has an oil gland on the top of their tail bone near their tail feathers that they use for preening...so be careful of this gland. Watch the chicks...this is also a popular pecking place when they are establishing pecking order.

I'd separate the bird with cardboard in the brooder until it is all better. Once there is blood the others will peck more. And give them Vitamin Poultry powder in the water...which will help.

If the birds have never been outside...it probably isn't mites.

Good luck!!

 

[Nativo]

Thank you for the welcome and the information.. .I am sure I will become a regular on this forum as I have never had chickens or any farm animals and I am starting out with 7 goats and 37 chickens...lol

Karlie

 

[cheeptrick]

OH...you are getting in deep very EARLY!! Welcome to the addiction! YOU Have been WARNED!!

Hope your chicky feels better soon!

 

[FloridaChickenChick]

I've got a 2 week old amerucauna (Amy) whose tail has been pecked by a 1 week old wyandotte. I've separated Amy so no one else will get any ideas about pecking her, but she is VERY sad.

All the chicks are healthy, eating and drinking and pooping just fine and flapping about, including Amy. But she's all alone and peeping very loudly for her buddies!

How long should I leave her separated? And is the Vitamin Poultry powder a brand? Can you tell me what I should get at the feed store tomorrow? And what is the blue stuff called? Should I get that? I've looked very closely and don't see anything that appears to be mites...I really think this is a pecking order thing because I saw the little wyandotte peck Amy three separate times.

I would appreciate your advice and quite honestly, a little reassurance.

Thanks!

Edited to answer these questions:
) 2 week old Amerucauna, not sure of weight, looks hefty and health except for her poor butt.
2) Her tail feathers have been picked at.
3) The area is raw...not drops of blood but definitely RED.
4) At least one of the 1 week old wyandottes is pecking Amy's butt.
5) Dumor chick feed and water. Feed and water is clean and fresh.
6) Poop looks normal.
7) Haven't administered any treatment, just separated her from the flock. DH just came in and told me he was holding her on his chest and talking to her because she was lonely (this is the big guy who doesn't want chickens). No wonder I love him.
8 ) I think I can treat her myself with some good advice and hand holding.
9) I don't have a picture. I can get one tomorrow if need be, but it appears that this may be a common problem.
10) Housed in a chicken wire brooder, newspaper covered with pine shavings covered with many layers of paper toweling. Kept on a warm porch. I put an upside down granola box with a hole cut in one of the short sides...they mosy in there at about 8:30 all on their own to sleep at night! No brooder light...they are doing fine. Growing fast, eating well, playful, etc.

 

[cheeptrick]

Put a Feather duster/stuffed animal and a mirror in with the separated chick...she'll be very happy!! If she isn't too bad you could put a smaller chick in with her and just watch them close.

Keep her separated until she is completely heeled...but if she isn't bleeding it might not be much of a problem.

The Vitamin/Electorlyte Powder comes in small packages 4 ozs or so...look for it near the water fonts at the feed store...mix it only in the plastic font it stains the metal ones. Russell Poult Pak is the brand my feed store carries.


Blue Kote or Red Kote I think is the spelling...after it is heeled...coat up any bare patches and this will deter them from pecking that area. I have never used this...but it is some sort of salve.

They all peck though...adding extra protein can help this. The chick starter/grower has a lot of protein in it...but at the age of your chicks you should wait to give cottage cheese, BOSS Black Oil Sunflower, etc for protein later on.

There are some that only use RED heat lamps and others swear by just a regular light bulb...I've heard both could cause picking. Maybe raise the heat lamp in the brooder...I also put a card board shoe box with the sides cut out so they can hide from the heat or BULLIES!! Or you could just give them more room...larger brooder would not hurt.

No worries...they grow so fast...and start to feather out.

...

Some one else will post other tips I'm sure.

 

[FloridaChickenChick]

Thanks a million. She's not too bad -- I was fortunate and caught this quickly, but I don't want to put another chick in just in case, you know? I'll get a mirror in there so her little heart doesn't break and get the vitamin powder.

Thank you again! Mostly I was alarmed, I think, because she was so obviously wanting to be back with her friends!