Chick is picking!

[Maggieisabelle]

So I went in to check on my chicks and saw one of them was had a bald spot underneath her wing and it she was preening the feathers around it. I’m not sure what to do about it. Should I let it be or take her away from the other chicks? I herd you can put like cone of shame around them so the picking will stop. Should I do that or wait and see if it gets better? Thanks

 

[ChickNanny13]

Can we get a picture? How old are the chicks? Have you examined for injury? Is the chick "picking" on the bald spot? IF not I would just leave it alone ...

 

[coach723]

I'm guessing that this is probably normal, depending on the age of your chick they will be losing fuzz and growing feathers. Bald spots often happen during the process until they are fully feathered. Preening is normal during this also as they remove feather sheaths from new feathers. Preening is very different from picking, and it's a normal activity that they will do their entire lives while they maintain their feathers. Pictures of your chick would help. A cone on a chick or chicken would not be safe or productive, it might result in strangulation or a broken neck.

 

[Maggieisabelle]

Can we get a picture? How old are the chicks? Have you examined for injury? Is the chick "picking" on the bald spot? IF not I would just leave it alone ...

She isn’t picking at the bald spot and there is no blood or raw skin .

 

[ChickNanny13]

I it's normal ... My girls are 12wks, under their wing, close to where it's "attached" to the body, it's bare. I've had older chickens & there is a "bare" spot under their "arm".