Is it normal to have bald spots?

[bigoledude]

I do all of the hatching and my partner in the country raises the chicks. A couple of days ago I visited our 3 1/2 week old chicks and found some of our Ameraucanas chicks with completely bald spots on their backs. My partner thought it was part of the feathering out process. We have 7 guinea keets in the brooder that are a week older than the chickens.

Do y'all think the bald spots are normal or, are the chicks being picked/pecked on? They look horrible.

 

[fried green eggs]

Guessing they are being picked on. It is not normal for them to go bald. The peach fuzz just gets replaced by new feather growth.

 

[nurse_turtle]

Over crowding can cause problems with feathering. Make sure they are on chick starter diet.