Ratty feathers, balding and scaby? What gives?

[looptloop]

I've got 10 chicks, 4 weeks old. Yesterday I noticed the tail feathers of one EE pecked almost gone and she was bleeding. I immediately brought her inside, rinsed her off to get a good look. Her tail feathers are coming in and they look huge like they made her bleed, then she got pecked. I brought in a friend and kept them both in the house until I could go get Blue-Kote.

I put them both back in the coop today and noticed that the other chicks look ratty. They have bald spots on their backs, scabs and dry looking patches on their skin. What in the world is causing that? Are they pecking each other? Maybe they are crowded or bored? I have them in a large rabbit hutch with the light on them at night. The weather here has been so unpredictable I have been hesitant to put them in the larger area for fear of someone wandering too far from the heat light and croaking.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[allieloveschickens]

They could have mites or lice, check them for bugs. It is possible they are picking on each other, but it sounds like it could be something else. Good luck!

 

[looptloop]

I will check them over for bugs, is it safe to dust them already?

 

[looptloop]

Well, I didn't see any mites or lice on the chicks, but I did find them on my older chickens, so I suppose there is a chance they could have them?! I think it looks more like they are pecking eachother though. It's the same spot on the ones that are bald. I think they were crowded abd bored. Should I dust them as a preventative since I found mites on my big girls anyway?