My Lavender orpington has had a rough first month. I noticed a bend in her neck 3 days after bringing her home and began treating for wry neck. It hasn't gotten any better but also not worse. But recently I've noticed that her sister's feathers look a lot better than hers. The center of each feather is bald. Is there something else going on besides possible wry neck?
Food: was giving Dumor chick starter 20% protein, switched to a medicated chick starter feed a few days ago, no treats yet but plan to get meal worms
Treating the wry neck: added polyvisol to water and gave orally a few times a day for about a week, still add to water, and now I give vit E and selenium orally once every couple days
This is her sun bathing with her wing out. I'll grab a couple pictures of her neck as well.
To be honest I have never seen feathers like that. They are interesting for sure.
What you scraped off if most likely keratin which is normal, it's part of the sheath that the feathers come out of, the birds will shed keratin for a while.
I don't see anything wrong with your feed or treatment of wry neck. Mealworms will make a fine treat, just make sure they have access to grit.
The neck could be genetic so she may never respond to the vitamin treatment, but if she were mine I would keep it up.
It's possible the feathers could be a genetic defect as well, but I tend to agree with your suspicion that she may not be able to groom/preen because of the neck, this could why the feathers look like that.
Does she ever take a dust bath?
If she doesn't you may want to provide a dust bathing area - a loose pile of dirt will work, some people use a combination of dirt, sand, ash, etc. Dust bathing may help her shed the excess keratin a little easier, because chick do usually preen that out.
She looks young enough to where she will go through at least one more molt, so hopefully she will shed these and the others will come in normally.
If she is eating, drinking, pooping and seems to be doing well, then just keep an eye on her. She is a cutie pie for sure.