Incessant Scratching 2-day Old Chick

[BlanchardChickens]

Hi Folks. I haven't had chickens in 30 years and need some help.

I just bought chicks today at Atwoods and at Tractor Supply. One of my French Black Marans is scratching incessantly and is making bald patches on her breast, neck, and back since arriving home. She also doesn't seem to sleep as long as the others for waking to scratch. The other chicks seem fine.

I have them on America's Choice Premium (Kiln Dried) Mini Flake All Natural Animal Bedding. It doesn't say what types of wood are used.

They are eating Manna Pro medicated Chick Starter Grower.

In case it makes a difference, I bought 2 each of Americauna, Buff Orpington, Lavendar Orpington, French Black Maran, White Leghorn, and Barred Rock.


Any thoughts?

 

[Firsttimehens1234]

Hi Folks. I haven't had chickens in 30 years and need some help.

I just bought chicks today at Atwoods and at Tractor Supply. One of my French Black Marans is scratching incessantly and is making bald patches on her breast, neck, and back since arriving home. She also doesn't seem to sleep as long as the others for waking to scratch. The other chicks seem fine.

I have them on America's Choice Premium (Kiln Dried) Mini Flake All Natural Animal Bedding. It doesn't say what types of wood are used.

They are eating Manna Pro medicated Chick Starter Grower.

In case it makes a difference, I bought 2 each of Americauna, Buff Orpington, Lavendar Orpington, French Black Maran, White Leghorn, and Barred Rock.


Any thoughts?

How much space do they have? I also had a chick who would pull out her own feathers and that went away after they got a bigger brooder,bedding and a place Where they could get direct Sunlight
You might also want to see if it has pasty butt, that can be very uncomfortable

 

[Eggcessive]

Look the chick over well for any signs of mites. If you have some fish oil capsules, and could get a little into it’s beak or on some food, the omega 3 fatty acids can sometimes help with extreme itching in animals. Chicks do scratch and shake their heads a bit while new feathers are growing in. Do the chicks have an area to dust bath in their brooder? Most will do it in the pine shavings.

 

[BlanchardChickens]

Thank you for the questions and suggestions. Here's where we stand this morning:

The twelve chicks are in a cage that is 26"x38". The temperature areas range from 70° F to 100° F so they can choose their comfort range. They are close to an east-facing window and can get direct sun (if our overcast skies would clear out). In addition to the infrared heat lamp, I also leave the bedroom light on 14+ hours and a closet light through the night.

No sign of pasty butt on her, though the poop seems a bit too wet to me. I figured that was stress as I bought her straight from the mail delivery container yesterday.

I don't see mites or lice.

Her energy and level of alertness seem very normal. She just scratches A LOT and doesn't settle to sleep for more than a couple minutes at a time. The other chicks don't seem to pick on her any more than on each other.

I brought in a tray of dirt for them. They are going WILD over it. No bathing yet, but lots of scratching and pecking.

I'll get some fish oil into her and see if that helps.