Is this a wattle at only 2 weeks?

[urrout]

I have four 2 week old chicks that have bright red "slits" on one side of their face. The other chicks were grabbing at the area & pulling & I thought they were injuries but there was no blood. I separated the 4 chicks & they are pecking each other a little. Now they do seem to have some injury to the area that already seems to be healing. Sorry the blurry pics. The pics make it look like a small spot but that whole length was bright red.

I have hatched & raised at least 500 chicks & have never seen this before. We had to buy eggs this year to hatch because our rooster apparently only liked a couple of our hens because only had 12 fertile eggs out of about 70. The bought eggs were a barnyard mix so I don't know which breeds they could be.

Anyway I was hoping someone could tell me if they are wattles forming already & what to do about the other chicks attacking them. or If not wattles, what it could be. thanks for any help.

 

[Rose Quartz]

Based on the color and larger size of the comb id say this is a male chick, but the wattle area looks injured, that isnt a normal red for wattles. It's possible they were just pecking at rhe wattles pecause they look different and 2 weeks is pretty early for development.

 

[urrout]

I know, that is why I am confused. Two week old chicks seems so young to have wattles, at least from my experience. But 4 chicks being injured at the exact same spot is too coincidental, imo.

 

[Altairsky]

If you could get a better pic, we might better understand what it is. It's just a guessing game right now.

 

[urrout]

Hopefully these will help. This is a different chick. Pic 3 is the opposite side of face & it looks a little raw like it has been pecked at a bit too.

The ad listed eggs as a Farm Mix of Sex link, Brahma, Barred Rock, Marans, Icelandic, americaunas, Orpingtons, a few varieties of Easter eggers.

 

[Altairsky]

Yep they are definitely biting each other's developing wattles.

 

[urrout]

How do I stop it? And wattles at 2 weeks old?

 

[Yardmom]

I've seen wattles as early as 2 weeks, and apparently so have your other chicks. Chicks will pick at anything that stands out

 

[K0k0shka]

These chicks look male. Color aside, that's a lot of comb and wattle for 2-week-olds.

 

[Altairsky]

Depending on the breed and sex, wattles at 2 weeks are not uncommon.
As for stopping the behavior... I used vicks vaporub to stop my cockerel from making the hens comb bleed. Apparently it tastes like death. However I never used it on little chicks so I have no idea if it might be toxic.