If you have chicks 14 days old, come here.....

[ButtersMama]

I'd like to know if this is typical behavior......when the chicks get ready to sleep, they all cuddle together and bite at themselves...like they are itching.
One chick that is pure white, I can see definate redness around the neck and base of tale feathers. I do not see mites, but the chicks seem to be itching. Is this typical? Is it typical to see the very pink skin so well on a white chick?

I've posted about this but can't seem to get an answer, so I'm trying this route....

Thanks!

 

[KatieBugg]

It is pretty normal. They are not biting themselves but in fact grooming/preening themselves. At 2 weeks those new feathers are pretty itchy as well.

 

[gryeyes]

What KatieBugg said.

 

[ButtersMama]

Thank you

What about this???
Is it typical to see the very pink skin (very irritated looking) so well on a white chick?

 

[sixshooter60]

yeah its pretty normal at 2 weeks the fluff is leaving and the feathers are starting to come in and its like hair growing .. it itches..lol...so they do pick at it , just be sure to watch that they dont get a sore and blood or others will start to peck it too.

 

[motoclown]

Mine are scratching and preening themselves.
I was a little worried about the scratching since my 6 from TSC were scratching more
then the other 32 from Meyers Hatchery, but all seems well.

 

[tinychicky]

they are just preening. if they appear to be biting themselves it's because they are still learing

you can see thier skin best because they are molting into thier first set of adult feathering. scractching is probably because new feathers are itchy.

 

[ButtersMama]

Thanks everyone. This is a busy place and I do appreciate people replying. I think I'll just take it all as normal and will watch. I just don't want them to suffer. I read about mites and people using Sevin dust!! OMG...that stuff is poison and I would never use that on the chicks to get rid of mites

I hope they don't have mites.

 

[FREEZE's CHICKENS]

Quote:

 

[taprock]

Mine are 14 - 16 days and I'm finding their fluff all over the house right now from all the preening. I think they have about graduated from front room box to basement dog crate.