Neck growth? Burn? 4 week Salmon Faverolle

[GunnerDane13]

This... thing... showed up on the chick's neck about a week ago. The hatchery I bought her from said they've never seen anything like it, but guessed it may be a burn from a heat lamp (plausible - we have 2 week old chicks in the brooder with them who still use the lamp). It does not seem to be getting better and is now creeping around the other side of her neck, where it wasn't before. She eats, drinks, moves and poops like she should. It does not seem to bother her. It does not feel hot or overly warm, to me. I don't see the other chicks picking on her. I don't know what to think or do about it! If it's a burn, can/should I put anything on it? If she needs to go to a vet, do I use my regular dog vet?

 

[Eggcessive]

How high is the heat lamp from the older chicks‘ heads, and what is the temperature underneath it? A 4 week old should be at 75 degress in the warmest spot, and cooler away from the lamp. The 2 week olds should be at 85. To me it looks like the chick has been pecked a lot and feathers pulled out. Are there any other chicks older that got to her? What are the breeds of the older chicks? Salmon faverolles are very docile and low in pecking order. They are starting to establish a pecking order, and it could be that some are more aggressive. I would separate the chick from the others (with food and water) with a partition or screen, so they don’t keep pecking her. Spray some Vetericyn or other wound spray on it. I have had good luck with BluKote to hide a red wound, and prevent pecking, but some have said that their chicks would peck more. So if you use that just watch for any pecking.

 

[GunnerDane13]

Thank you so much!! Yes we have a few others in the 6x9 "brooder" we've made. The light is about 15, maybe 18" from the ground? They rarely lay under it, but they do lay near the "red circle" it casts and have plenty of room to be either warmer or cooler. I've been an obsessive 'mother hen' of sorts, complete with nanny cam, which I'm constantly checking. These extremely dusty critters are currently taking up half of our basement which is also my home office lol I believe you that she must be getting pecked, I just never see it. I can point out a handful of others I do see picking /getting picked but this one never seems to be in that mix. I have now separated her with another girl who is having leg problems and they look to be cuddled up, so that's reassuring. I will watch them the next few days, hopefully they can keep each other's spirits up! Thanks again for your quick response, it's calmed me down some!

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know how she gets along.