My baby RI Red has a bald spot… Help!

[Nirrem29]

She is about three weeks old, and is the only one with the problem. I have not witnessed any pecking. This is my first time raising baby chicks, what is going on!?

 

[Mountain_artist]

I am a first time chick parent too, and one of my barred rock chicks had that. She was also later to grow her feathers than her sisters. But today, she is 4.5 weeks old and growing in her big girl feathers as normal!! I bet yours will grow her feathers in too. I'm learning these chicks are all individuals and do weird and unique things!

 

[Nirrem29]

Thank you!

 

[junebuggena]

Someone is feather picking. Pics of your brooder setup may give some clues as to why.

 

[Nirrem29]

Someone is feather picking. Pics of your brooder setup may give some clues as to why.

 

[Nirrem29]

Trying to get he picture to post

 

[junebuggena]

Your brooder is much too small. One of the most common causes of feather picking is overcrowding stress. Those chicks need a much larger space ASAP. If not, the feather picking may become a lifelong habit.

 

[Nirrem29]

Thank you! The lady at the feed store where I got them said to put them in a large Rubbermaid bin, so that’s what I did! Since they have been getting bigger, I have been wondering if it is too crowded! I just doubled their space, so I hope they are better now!

 

[junebuggena]

Doubling will still be too small. At their age, they need about 1 to 2 sq ft per chick. Storage tubs make lousy brooders. Too small, and they tend to trap heat causing an oven effect. It's really easy to overheat chicks in plastic bins.
Go to U-Haul, Home Depot, or Lowes and get the largest moving boxes you can find. Or, if it's warm enough, move them out to the coop.

 

[Nirrem29]

Thank you for your response! We want to move them out to the coop, but it is still too cold. Any recommendation on when we can move them out? It is about 50° out consistently during the day, obviously colder at night