One of my chicks feathers don't look right. Is something wrong.

[Ryguy3684]

I have ten, 4 week old Buff Orpingtons. All but the one pictured are pretty much feathered in. This one has patches of feathers, patches of down, and you can see her skin at the top front of her wings. The others feathered in very evenly, and quickly, but she's been like this for a week, gaining only a couple of feathers a day. Is there something wrong with her? She seems to pick at her tail and wing feathers alot.

 

[Lydia Huizenga]

Does she pull feathers out? When I had my first round of chicks I had one barred rock that grew bald spots on where his elbow would be and it's normal and fine. Everything seems normal in the picture. All chicks feather in differently.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Does she pull feathers out? When I had my first round of chicks I had one barred rock that grew bald spots on where his elbow would be and it's normal and fine. Everything seems normal in the picture. All chicks feather in differently.

I haven't seen her pull any feathers out, but sometimes she does bite at them like she's trying. I think she pulled a tail feather out the other day, because she had a little bit of dried blood on her tail. Although, another chick could have pulled it out. It's my first time with chicks, so I just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking an obvious problem. Thanks.

 

[Jenwisp]

Growing new feathers in looks itchy to me. I watched my first round of pullets nibbling away, preening and cleaning as the new feathers came in. They chewed a lot and it made me nervous, but they are alright and almost full of new feathers now. I think it's just an itchy/annoying process for them. I'm a first timer, too.

 

[eeyore66jpk]

My duck is having the same problem but she's weaker than the others

 

[Isaac 0]

Birds often get bald patches around this age, you can see the new feathers coming in, normal.

 

[Isaac 0]

My duck is having the same problem but she's weaker than the others

You can further explain how she is being weak?

 

[Lydia Huizenga]

I've read up on pin feathers and molting for a while. It's an annoying process and itchy too. The pin feathers itch and annoy the chick especially when you pick them up. Don't try to pick off the coating either because it would hurt the chick and you don't want to break a blood feather.

 

[Ryguy3684]

Thank you for the information.

 

[Nika B]

Yeah, that looks pretty normal. However, if you notice any redness or itchiness, I put just a tiny bit of coconut oil on the bald patches to help. Hope this helps!