question about new baby chicks and itching

[seedsandsuch]

This is my first time raising chicks. I've been wanting to get some for several years and just now got ready for them. I got 6 red pullets and 6 white leghorn pullets from TSC today. They just got them in today and said they were only a few days old. They are doing great. I have them on pine shavings in a metal stock tank with a heat lamp on them. They seem happy and are eating and drinking fine. However, 2 or 3 of the white leghorns have just developed this afternoon, a bald, slightly red spot on their right shoulders. They have been scratching some too. I inspected one of the chicks and the spot is about the size of a nickel and there is no fluff there and there was a small, red line on the skin like she got scratched or something. Could they have some kind of lice or mite at this early age? Or if not, what could this be? The red pullets are scratching a little but no bald or red spots on their skin yet. Do I need to separate the leghorns? And also, what can I do about the spots and scratching? Thanks for any suggestions. I am totally new to this!

 

[zoa]

I am sorry but I don't have an answer for you. I am interested too, I have a chick that I got from TSC today that has been scratching more than normal. the others are all fine, but almost every time I check in on her, she is scratching. She is a red bantam cochin. I would love to know if anyone has any info on this?
thanks!

 

[allieloveschickens]

My Australorp has bald shoulder patches too, I wouldn't worry about it, as they lose their fluff and develop adult feathers they go through a patchy, ugly phase- they will get new feathers soon! Unless it looks really picked at, or bloody, I would leave it be. For the itching you can give them a dusting of DE or Sevin dust to clear up any mites, though the chances of them having mites so young isn't too likely, unless they have been exposed to older birds that were infested, or perhaps a coop that had other birds in it that may have had mites. You can check them under their wings and around their vents for tiny little bugs. Some itching is normal, too much and there may be an underlying problem. Good luck!