Bumps on wings-is this normal?

[orrismb]

I've got my first set of 2-week-old chicks at home and I just brought them home from a local 1st grade classroom, where they hatched. 6 of 8 of them have these bald bumps on the tops of their wings. Is this normal? Or, have I got pickers? I've been trying to watch, but I don't really see a culprit. I've put some of that no-pick lotion on their wings, but I'm wondering if this is just a normal feathering process. . .
If it's not, what do I do to prevent this?

 

[Bantimna]

BUMP

It seems like you have a picker, INS.

 

[WildWalker]

Definitely a picker - those little bumps you see look to be the "elbows" of the chicken's arms.

 

[orrismb]

So, if I have a picker, what should I do? Is there a way to rehabilitate that little guy or gal? Will he/she always pick? Do these problems solve themselves (or will they if I put Rooster Booster no-pick goo on their wings?)

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have two that look like that and they are not being picked on. They are 3 weeks old and they are the two that are not feathering in except their tails & wings. I think they just outgrew their fuzz unless of course it is red & bleeding! Mine are just skin colored and bald. I have seen this before in the slow featherers.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

my BR roos have bald spots on their elbows, next to their necks, and around their tails.. slow featherers!

 

[orrismb]

Hmmm. . . They're not red or bleeding. Maybe they are just bald spots. I'll keep them gooed up, and just keep an eye on them. I hope that they're slow featherers. Thanks for all the input! I appreciate it!

 

[elmo]

What's the protein content of your chick starter? Feathers are made from protein, and chicks are also needing plenty of protein for their rapid growth. Do you know what they feed the chicks when they were in the classroom? Might not have been enough protein.

 

[lex381]

Sorry, but what's a picker?

 

[WildWalker]

Pickers are chickens that like to pick other chicken's feathers out or in some cases partake in mildly cannibalistic acts. They won't kill eachother directly from picking, but if left alone long enough the picked area can become a very serious injury.

Chickens pick for a few reasons, or none at all in some cases - whether its boredom, a protein deficiency, and I think there's a few other reasons I'm missing here (can't remember

).

Picking can be treated with a few anti-picking products used to deter the picking and allow it to heal, something to alleviate boredom by giving them something other then eachother to peck at (cabbage is a common choice), or in severe cases when the picker just won't stop you can give them red chicken-shades

The idea behind the shades is that they can't pick at what they can't see, so if they're wearing the shades they can't see a raw spot to pick, etc.