My 6 week SLW is missing all the feathers on one side of her head

[brendave]

The title says it all. She won't let me close enough to look at her but I got a couple of pictures. Could someone please tell me what this may be.

I have 5 6 week chicks. 1 SLW, 2 Buff Orps, 2 Easter eggers. They are contained in a 6x3 1/2 foot coop and run and free range when I get home from work. I am in the process of building a bigger run and coop (I only expected to have 2 chickens and so am grossly underprepared. I noticed blood on the top pf the Orps beaks yesterday, near their noses. Is this aggression?

foot coop and run and free range when I get home from work. I am in the process of building a bigger run and coop (I only expected to have 2 chickens and so am grossly underprepared. I noticed blood on the Orps beaks yesterday, near their noses. Is this aggression?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Probably from crowding. Check them over for mites just to be sure. Definitely need a lot more room.

 

[brendave]

No mites or lice. Should I separate her from the others for right now? I can put her back in the brooder if that would help. I'm at least 2 weeks from getting the new coop totally predator proof.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Can you get them into a bigger area or give them some supervised outside time? They need more room, you need to figure out how to give them some. They need to run and scratch and burn off energy at their age, otherwise they will burn off energy pecking each other.

 

[brendave]

I'm going to put up a temporary run this Saturday. My 2 dogs think the chickens are new squeaky toys, otherwise I would let them free range all day. I thought I was prepared and I'm definitely not. Btw, I am building a coop and run double the size I need right now. I've already identified a few more chicks I'd like to get.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm going to put up a temporary run this Saturday. My 2 dogs think the chickens are new squeaky toys, otherwise I would let them free range all day. I thought I was prepared and I'm definitely not. Btw, I am building a coop and run double the size I need right now. I've already identified a few more chicks I'd like to get.

Bigger is always better. It can never be too big, but it can definitely be too small. My main chicken shed is a 40x40 shed, with large pastures. I see zero aggression problems, everyone can get away if necessary. Chickens are viscous when crowded or when confined too much.

 

[BreanneRN]

The title says it all. She won't let me close enough to look at her but I got a couple of pictures. Could someone please tell me what this may be.

I have 5 6 week chicks. 1 SLW, 2 Buff Orps, 2 Easter eggers. They are contained in a 6x3 1/2 foot coop and run and free range when I get home from work. I am in the process of building a bigger run and coop (I only expected to have 2 chickens and so am grossly underprepared. I noticed blood on the top pf the Orps beaks yesterday, near their noses. Is this aggression?View attachment 1430101 View attachment 1430102 foot coop and run and free range when I get home from work. I am in the process of building a bigger run and coop (I only expected to have 2 chickens and so am grossly underprepared. I noticed blood on the Orps beaks yesterday, near their noses. Is this aggression?

Hmm, is it possible she got her head stuck somewhere, then stripped the feathers off struggling to get loose? She doesn't seem to be bleeding... Usually with aggression it is the top of the head or the back down in front of the tail... And she doesn't look pecked exactly, just stripped of feathers there...

 

[brendave]

Hmm, is it possible she got her head stuck somewhere, then stripped the feathers off struggling to get loose? She doesn't seem to be bleeding... Usually with aggression it is the top of the head or the back down in front of the tail... And she doesn't look pecked exactly, just stripped of feathers there...

I can't think of where she would get her head stuck unless. I have had predators trying to get in the coop at night but hardware cloth and guard dogs have protected them. She may have scraped her face on the pop door if she was trying to escape the coop.

 

[Chickassan]

Looks like another chick started preening her and didn't stop. This happened to one of my girls over the winter when they couldn't get out like they wanted. It isn't agression at all "for now" it is hyperactive boredom. Get that bigger space asap or your girls will look like turkens.

 

[brendave]

I got home from work and decided to check the coop and run before I let the girls out for a little free ranging.

Look what started growling at me!