little white specks on chicks Dust of something baaaaaad

[abhaya]

I noticed when feeding my 3 week old chicks some seem to have little white specks on them the dont move look like dirt but new to chickens and not sure.

 

[Tdub4chiks]

Could be dander from getting their feathers.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

If they look like this then they are prob. lice:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html


If they are just flakes of skin, then it's dander and I did notice it in my 3 week olds prominently once.

 

[kitkatnoah]

My chicks are 3 weeks old, too and I've noticed the feather dander (little white specks) on their feathers whenever they preen themselves. My older hens will peck at the dander thinking it's food.