my chick is losing its feathers!?!

[hetherfeather]

i have 25 day old chicks, and it seems that one of them is losing its feathers! i checked on her just this morning and she has bald-ish spots on both of her wings. i know they are not from other chicks pecking at her.
Many of her feathers are loose, and her vent is swollen. None of the other chicks peck her, she has fresh water and food every day. I'm not sure what breed she is, but she might be a partrige. she used to love being held and cuddled, but now she hates being picked up.
i did notice her swollen vent after i took her outside in my jacket... is she going through a stress molt??
my chick is definitely a pet. i really really really don't want her to die!!!!!!
please help me i am so worried!

 

[Judy]

They tend to look a bit "motheaten" when very young. The missing feather places are probably normal. Are these shipped chicks? She is probably a bit dehydrated and suffering from shipping stress. Please do understand that out of 25, it would not be odd to lose one.

I'd check the brooder temp, be sure it's not too hot, be sure they have enough room to go to a warmer or cooler space, and be sure the water is set up so it doesn't fill with litter. (Many people use old towels or paper towels for a couple of days, til they learn the difference between food and litter.) Also be sure she actually knows how to drink; dip her beak, observe her. A little ACV in the water may help.

This is a great article about what can go wrong with new chicks, and how to avoid common pitfalls:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39604/some-causes-of-early-chick-mortality/0_20

 

[Eggcessive]

She may have a vent prolapse. Can you post a picture of her vent and the wing feathers? Has she had problems with pasty butt? You can try some honey, witch hazel, or preparation H on the vent which may help shrink it. Here is a link: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/857614/help-prolapsed-vent-chick

 

[hetherfeather]

i do not have 25 chicks.. i have 5 chicks that are 25 days old. sorry about the confusion. no, they are not shipped but i got my partraige a little late. i will post a picture 1 sec

 

[hetherfeather]

sorry about the tilted pics.

 

[Eggcessive]

Some chicks that I have raised have feathered in more slowly on their wings, so I think that may be what you are seeing. In two weeks, they will probably look different. In some heritage RIR chicks, my boys had those little bare wings longer. I can't see the vent well in the pictures.

 

[hetherfeather]

great news! her feathers have gotten sorta better, and her vent has healed!!! I'm so happy for her!!!