One of my new 3-4day old chicks seems to be more itchy and preening more than the others. She has flipped herself onto her back and can't get up. I'm thinking its her new feathers that bother her. Others also picking/preening the same area[wings] as well as scratch their heads. I trimmed the one chicks end feathers, she kept toppling when she held on them, now she isn't falling onto her back.
They have no visible bugs or missing fluff, eating/pooing/drinking/sleeping normal.
All itch/scratch, a bit more than I'm used to seeing.
Sprinkled DE on bedding, food, bit in water and a tad right on their backs so they can preen it into them. Hope it helps if it's any bug, at least until I can figure out what it is[bug or new feathers] and find the right treatment for such itty bitty chicks.
Any insight?
Well, it seems to have calmed, the DE worked or it was just their new feathers coming in. I did trim the one ladies wings further, she kept getting her beak stuck on some of the newer feather tips and would fall over. Not as bad as the 'flight' feathers I had already trimmed, those made her fall on her back and she couldn't get up.
They have no visible bugs or missing fluff, eating/pooing/drinking/sleeping normal.
All itch/scratch, a bit more than I'm used to seeing.
Sprinkled DE on bedding, food, bit in water and a tad right on their backs so they can preen it into them. Hope it helps if it's any bug, at least until I can figure out what it is[bug or new feathers] and find the right treatment for such itty bitty chicks.
Any insight?
Well, it seems to have calmed, the DE worked or it was just their new feathers coming in. I did trim the one ladies wings further, she kept getting her beak stuck on some of the newer feather tips and would fall over. Not as bad as the 'flight' feathers I had already trimmed, those made her fall on her back and she couldn't get up.
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