New to chickens, have a couple of questions.

[Cuccoosnest]

Hi there folks.
I'm new to the forum and new to raising chickens. A family friend bought each of my four kids a chick for Easter. He knew that I wanted chickens, but also knew that my wife wanted nothing to do with the idea. So, he plotted against her, unbeknownst to even me. So, I picked up two more to round out the flock to an even half dozen. I just finished building the henhouse, and will be building the run this week.
To the point: I noticed that two of our chicks (now 4 week old leghorns) have a large bare spot on their bellys. Bare all the way to the skin. Looks like the new feathers have been rubbed off. I think I was a little late getting them into their new home and their brooder had a hardware cloth top. Maybe the chickens were rubbing their bellys on the floor too much, to keep from rubbing their heads, as maybe the brooder wasnt tall enough? Im beginning to wonder if all the other four chicks aren't bantams, as they are not nearly as tall as the Leghorns. Also, noticed a large(size of my thumb pad) green spot under one wing of one of the leghorns. Any ideas what this may be?

Hope someone can help us. I'd hate to lose a bunch of chickens my first time out.

: yiipchick

 

[mrszlopez]

im gonna say its fairly normal for some chicks. i have three 3wk old barred rock pullets that have bald bellies & they are just fine ! their new feathers are starting to grow in some of the bald spots. I wouldnt worry too much so long as theyre not showing any other signs of illness. good luck with the chicks & welcome to the wonderful world of chickens !!

 

[Carolyn]

Are they white leghorns? If so is it possible they are not leghorns at all? If they are bigger than the rest, have bare bellies but are otherwise feathered out you may actually have 2 meaties. Maybe someone else can help you figure it out. Pics would help if you are able to post them.

If they were in a mixed bin at a store that increases the possiblity. The first chickens I had I thought I picked up some white rocks, then I thought one of them was a leghorn (she was actually a runty rock cause the eggs were brown). I had a couple of them that were pretty good size and they just died when they were about 3 months old. Their bellies were bare. It wasn't until I saw a flock of meaties that I realized that these 2 were meaties. (If I had known I would have fed them differently and already butchered them). Meaties have problems that shortens their life expectancy even if are not fed a diet to fatten them up for butchering around 2 months of age. They don't usually live very long although a few people have raised them to adulthood.

I hope you can figure this out pretty soon so you can prepare your children and maybe buy them some replacements. Actually I really hope these were the 2 you bought and not the gift chickens.

Anyway, it could be an excuse to get more chicks! Welcome to the world of chickens. I wanted to buy my grandchildren chicks but their daddy said "No".....bummer, I don't want to be the only addict in the family.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Good links for newbies:
http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-care/chapter-4-caring-for-baby-chicks.aspx
http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/knowhow/chicks/livestock_care_caring_for_new_chicks
http://www.motherearthnews.com/city.../are-you-ready-for-chickens-chickens-101.aspx
http://www.motherearthnews.com/basic-country-skills/get-started-with-chickens.aspx
Good luck with your new babies!

 

[Cuccoosnest]

Quote:
I was told that they are white legorns from the folks at Tractor Supply. The lady that picked them out for us is the one that ordered them. She is a friend of a friend, and she and her hubby have some 300 chickens, guineas, and assorted other exotic birds. Maybe they got mixed in at the hatchery. Anyway, thanks for the info. I'll keep an eye on them.