I have an 11 week old chick with scabs on her tail feathers.

[DonnaScott]

How old are the birds and what are they being fed? Type of feed and protein %, what else is in the diet?

11/12 weeks old.

I feed them Dumor 20% protein starter.

Meal worms and scratch.

Yesterday I started giving them scraps that they wanted to eat finally and put red pepper in some scrambled eggs.

 

[DonnaScott]

3 x 7 ft or 3 x 7m? Big difference between them

Feet. Sorry.

 

[DonnaScott]

Can you get some help holding this bird for pics?
Often easiest to 'catch' them off the roost after dark.

I was unsuccessful last night but I will try again tonight.

 

[Muser]

Feet. Sorry.

Hmm, might be some feather pecking as your hennies might want more room for their run. Rule of thumb is 4 square ft per bird which would mean you do have enough space but I have always found birds do better with maximum space, especially if they aren't all super peaceful with each other! I have 10 girls and have a 3 x 9 meter run for them and they still have little squabbles now and again but at least the weaker ones can escape somewhere for some rest

This is also only in place whilst Defra have limitations for housing in place for avian flu in the UK. In the summer they get to free range

 

[DonnaScott]

I never see anyone peck her and they still spend a majority of time in the coop (their choice).

I see my silkie get pecked in the head all the time and bring him in at night until he gets bigger. I haven't seen any issues with the rest. In fact she is buddies with the bully.

I'll try to get pics tonight.

What did I get myself into

 

[Twilia]

Pecking? Likely. See also: Lice & mites, sores, irritations, excess feather shaft shedding (I mean you said scabs, but not sure how sure you are if she's feral/frisky?) Good luck

 

[DonnaScott]

Pecking? Likely. See also: Lice & mites, sores, irritations, excess feather shaft shedding (I mean you said scabs, but not sure how sure you are if she's feral/frisky?) Good luck

I just dropped a bunch of money on lice and mite stuff just in case.

 

[DonnaScott]

Hmm, might be some feather pecking as your hennies might want more room for their run. Rule of thumb is 4 square ft per bird which would mean you do have enough space but I have always found birds do better with maximum space, especially if they aren't all super peaceful with each other! I have 10 girls and have a 3 x 9 meter run for them and they still have little squabbles now and again but at least the weaker ones can escape somewhere for some rest

This is also only in place whilst Defra have limitations for housing in place for avian flu in the UK. In the summer they get to free range

Mine is 10 x 10.

My husband gave me the measurements for the little run and it took me a second to realize it.

 

[DonnaScott]

May I please see some pictures?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I have to be honest here. It was a thought I had when I read the description but what the pictures show is the same I surmised when I asked about age and feed. It will likely be ok in the end.
I had a similar situation which turned out to be akin to cannibalism.
So, briefly, here is the story. I had several flocks of chickens, and the number varied from 40 to 100 at any one time. I started feeding organic and rather than store several types of feed for all ages of birds, I switched to a 15% organic grower and a 54% fishmeal. By blending the two at different ratios, I could go from the 15% that was primarily fed to roosters and mature cockerels up to 22% for new chicks and adjusting the protein as they grew. I had a batch of birds about the age of yours. I was cutting back on the fishmeal and eventually when I moved them into another building, I cut it out all together as they were almost grown.
Then I thought I had rats. I saw their backs at the base of the tail had been chewed. I eventually lost one of the birds. One day I walked in about dusk and all the birds were resting together before sleeping and a couple were casually eating the feathers and meat of another bird. To the victim, it problably felt akin to scratching an itch.
I shot the fishmeal back up to achieve 20% protein the next day and the habit ceased. I assume it started with feather picking.
I gradually eased back the protein till I got to 17% until they were at POL.
I would first cut out the scratch and maybe give a high protein treat like canned mackerel a couple times a week.