Several week old chicks are plucking feathers and developed cysts

[red7319]

I bought some chicks several weeks ago and now they are plucking feathers and making wounds on each other. Today I noticed cysts on every one that had been plucked or pecked and had a wound. The cysts are on their neck area or right close to it. What is wrong with my chicks? What do I do? One of my chicks died this morning.

 

[ICallMyselfCherie']

Hi there, Red.

Pictures would definitely help so if you can upload them, that would be great. But until then . . .

Here is what I would do:

Isolate the chicks from eachother. Watch to see which ones are pecking, and separate them from the ones that have wounds. If the ones that have wounds are pecking eachother, try find a way to separate them from eachother, too. I am assuming that the reason they have "cysts" is that their wounds have gotten infected. Try to clean the wounds with some warm water with a couple drops of dish soap (not DISHWASHING detergent) added to it. Then you can put some neosporin (but not the kind with pain reliever) on the wound. If you can find a way to cover the wound so that it can be protected a little bit, that's fine, but that part is optional.

I hope that helps, keep us updated!