slightly graphic pic...trying to figure out if she was attacked or did it to herself...

[aidensmomma]

This is one of my 3 week old LB's who was fine last night and I found her butt like this this morning. I can see that the feathers have been plucked but the bulging concerns me....is that swelling from the plucking or could it be something else? I've consulted my chicken health book and didn't find a lot, but did apply some vetricyn and separated her from the others. i have had no other problems with behavior. any advice or help is appreciated.

 

[casportpony]

Grab another one about her size and do a side-by-side comparison. Check them both and compare size and see if you can find any oddities with the oil gland (preening gland).

read this:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/03/chicken-feather-loss-cannibalism-causes.html

-Kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

It looks pretty swollen, but it is probably from feather picking. Her oil gland is exposed and red. It's a shame to have to separate her since they are just beginning to arrange their pecking order. Is she in with only 3 week olds, or are there older chickens? Do you have them in a big enough area, since feather picking can be due to overcrowding, boredom, and not feeding enough protein in the diet. Chicks that age need a 20% starter/grower feed. I would get some BluKote and dab or spray on her when the swelling goes down to try and get her back in the flock. Nustock cream will also work instead of the BluKote which can be staining.

 

[aidensmomma]

They have just started on grower and they live in a very large brooder with all its hatch mates. The other Light Brahma's have a similar bump so the swelling is not nearly as bad as it looks, but it's definitely swollen. The vetericyn seems to be working very well and the redness isn't so "angry" anymore. I will look into the Nustock cream. THanks ONCE AGAIN!

 

[casportpony]

Keep an eye out for lice and mites, they can cause feather loss, though not normally in that area.

-Kathy

 

[aidensmomma]

Keep an eye out for lice and mites, they can cause feather loss, though not normally in that area.

-Kathy

That was actually my first thought, but I check them frequently and have never had a lice or mite issue....but definitely something to keep in mind!! Also, it is just that one chick in that one spot, so even though I have no experience with lice or mites, I think that would be quite unusual.

 

[enola]

Have you quarantined the chick? Bare skin like that sometimes escalates to canibalism.

 

[aidensmomma]

Have you quarantined the chick? Bare skin like that sometimes escalates to canibalism.

Yes, thanks for asking. The moment I uncovered the brooder and saw her condition I removed her.

 

[casportpony]

Quote:
That's what I would have done.

-Kathy

 

[chickengeorgeto]

They.... live in a very large brooder with all its hatch mates....

What dimensions is a very large brooder and how many chicks is all its hatch mates?

Eggcessive is right about the causes of feather picking. However there seems to be a lot of pin and blood feathers coming in. t may, possibly, kind-of, sort-of, maybe, be an abnormally fast molt of her down leading up to her first adolescent feathers growing in.