Is there something wrong with my chicks???

[leasmom]

I have 18 meat birds who are doing very strangely. They are pecking at their feathers or eachothers feathers because there are a few bald spots on some. They all have large bubbles under their skin at their necks. What is going on with them??? My tiny aracauna doesnt have the missing feathers but she has the bulge at the neck. Help please!!!! I'm feeding them Dumor brand chick starter.

 

[Darin115]

I think you are talking about their crop. It is where the feed goes to be stored until it is ready to start the digestion process.

My cornish x have blad spots too. They grow so fast the feathers can't keep up. As long as they are not pecking each other and bringing blood I think you are fine.

I have 6 meat birds and they are a breed apart. They are unlike any other chicken I have ever raised.
They just started flapping their wings and trying to fly across the tractor. They are so heavy they do not get off the ground but they have fun trying.

Darin

 

[leasmom]

Okay. What about the feather picking?

 

[Darin115]

Mine have bald spots as well but it is nt from picking feathers. It is from growing so fast that the feathers can't keep up.

How are you feeding them? Feed 24/7 or 12 on and 12 off?

Darin

 

[happyhensny]

Maybe they need a larger home. Meat birds get big very quickly, they may just need a bit more room to walk around in.

 

[leasmom]

I'm feeding them 12 on and 12 off. And they just look like that because they are growing so fast? They look so odd...The larger space sounds right. Hmm...this is my first time with meat birds. I successfully raised alot of chicks before but never them.

 

[happyhensny]

They can be quite bizarre looking as they get older - don't look at them too much. Think oven roasted ... mmmmm....

 

[leasmom]

Happy Hensny-LOL!!! Right now I'm thinking...odd, weird, yucky...but I will have to think roasted like you said.

 

[patandchickens]

Think of the bare areas as just that much less to pluck

Pat

 

[crazy for chicken]

I had 2 of those pigs last fall they don't have fluff yes they look like they are missing feathers