UPDATED w/pics still needing advice - skin on head is red

[SobbaChickens]

Hi, I have 6 chicks roughly 5wks old, 2 BRs, 2 RSL, and 2 BSL. I just took my dogs out to go bedtime potty and checked on the chicks one last time. I noticed my largest BSL and RSL had really red ears and when I picked one up I noticed some of the skin on the head area was red too, around her wattles, eyes (the other was the exact same way).

Now I spend a lot of time every single day interacting with my chickens and I'm 99% sure I have never ever noticed this before. I just put the chickens back in the brooder for the night about 4hrs ago and I didn't see anything strange but yet when I just went out it was very obvious that the BSL had something going on and it wasn't until I went out again to take a picture (attempt) that I noticed the RSL was the same way.

I finally got a picture of the RSL and it's not the best but you can still see what I'm talking about. They were all very interested in mommies phone and wouldn't stand still for a picture.




I was out there for maybe 10 minutes and I saw all the chicks happily eating and drinking after I awoke them from their slumber. I left to get my phone and when I came back they were all snuggled together and then again jumped up to eat and drink. I did not see any of the chicks pecking at these. I just don't know what to think. My chicks have been perfectly healthy since the day I got them, no stress issues, no pasty butt, nothing. They haven't had any new food, their water always has ACV in it, they haven't been in any grass that had chemicals. Today because of the weather they were only outside for a few hours this evening. When I first noticed the BSL my first thought was that it looked like a sunburn. They skin on their bodies is normal looking. I know getting red wattles and combs is normal and this RSL does have a red comb much more than her sisters but I've never ever noticed red ears before on any of them. My other 4 chicks look completely normal.


Please any advice would be wonderful. Since this is our first ever issue I'm super worried and I've been googling and can't find any information. I have researched lice and mites but from the pictures I'm seeing and it's not the same. Plus I didn't see any bugs

Katie


*Edit to add: My chicks have also never pecked on each other. I don't see any blood on either chick, just patchy red skin


UPDATE
Well it's been almost 12 hours, I have noticed NO other symptoms but no decrease in the redness on the 2 chicks. I'm still looking for advice. I divided the chicks this morning to watch the behavior of the 2 in question. Once the 4 "regular" chicks were out of the brooder the last two started getting very upset and didn't seem to mind running around like fools and crying, so I guess their energy level is just a-okay lol.

I broke a corn cob into two pieces and gave one piece to each group. The black sex link I'm having issues with didn't want the corn and I attempted to get both girls to eat some yogurt by putting it on their beaks (what a good way to tick them off

) but after seeing them both eating their chick starter and drinking and acting like they always do I decided to put them back with the other 4 chicks. I had given the other 4 chicks a bowl of yogurt with their chick starter sprinkled on top, later I found the black sex link eating it up

She acted like I was poisoning her with it before, such a drama queen.

I did finally get some pictures that show exactly what I'm experiencing so surely someone can help OR just tell me I'm nuts. As I said before this is the first ever issue they have had so I'm very bit of freaking out. I think you can see the redness I'm talking about betting in the pictures of the BSL, its not showing up well in pics on RSL, must be the contrast between skin/feathers

Because it really is just as red in person


My Red Sex Link: Big Red Hen









Black Sex Link: Spock

 

[chkn]

One thing I'd try to observe is the red eared one eating and drinking as voraciously as the rest. If so, then maybe the problem is only simple or superficial or maybe natural. It doesn't look like there's any odd swelling. I can't see from the picture all that well and normally I equate paleness to mites and so forth but maybe you should keep proactive there. I would get some treats out and see how she does and then maybe put a pinch of electrolyte/vitamins in the water. If she seems lethargic or sneezy maybe a little antibiotic. Are they still on chick starter? What are you feeding them? She looks ok as far as I can tell but she does look a little 'unhapsey'. Maybe a little gentle delousing would help. Make sure she's got an appetite though too.

 

[SobbaChickens]

Thanks for your reply.I'm not sure if my post wasn't clear but there are 2 chicks that have the same redness, exact same spots too.

They are eating Nutrena NatureWise Chick Starter Grower 18% crumbles and have been eating that since they were 2-3wks old. While I was out there (I've gone out multiple times since posting this) I looked at the 2 chicks vents and saw no bugs, they are acting the exact same as always, eating like pigs, and drinking. I haven't heard any sneezing. I got them a corn on the cob tonight and was going to give it to them tomorrow so I will really watch and see if there have been changes in their behavior. I've tried a few times in the past to give them yogurt but they won't have it, I'll try it again in the morning anyways. They always have ACV "with the mother" in their water. Do I need to stop that and give them something else?


Katie

 

[SobbaChickens]

It doesn't look like there's any odd swelling. .

And you're right, there is no swelling at all. I checked their vents and all seemed normal. I checked under their feathers on top of their heads and the skin looks fine, the entire rest of their bodies is fine. It's basically the ears, "cheek" area, around their eyes, and down their beaks, and wattles.

 

[chkn]

Man, don't they love corn on the cob! Well if they're not scratching their face and wattles or being itchy elsewhere then it's probably okay for now. If they're eating like little pigs I wouldn't worry too much about it. Some of the little external parasites aren't visible but if they're not itching I wouldn't worry about that. It wouldn't hurt to maybe give them some of that Sav A Chick stuff. I haven't used it but it's supposed to have all the right kind of vitamins for little ones. Sometimes it lives up to it's name because some chicks are actually deficient and going down hill fast. Is it possible that any of these could be becoming 'chicken boys'? This one looks a little hefty but it also looks like a Buff after all. Anyway, if they're 'pigging out' they're okay. Might just be the breed.

 

[SobbaChickens]

Do I have fat chickens? lol I got them Friday, April 12 so I misspoke before, they are almost 6wks old. The two chicks that I'm having this issue with ARE my biggest ones. The black sex link has always been bigger than the rest and they are all the same age. The only two that I'm concerned about being roos are the barred rock b/c the rest are sex links. Both RSL are red star and have a good amount of white on their behinds.




^^This is James T Kirk, she is not one of the chicks having the redness issue though




These last two pictures are from the 16th, I just love how my BR is leaning into the picture, cracks me up.

 

[chkn]

That's so funny. I have a little hutch like that. Everybody looks pretty darned happy in there. You might need to think about ways to strengthen up their little pen up eventually though and give them something to cuddle up in at night. I used to use a large empty plastic plant container with some straw. If all you have to worry about is the kitty getting in then no problem but there's probably a coon on possum somewhere. I originally built mine as a little broody hutch and I still use it to separate my rooster when he gets too rough with the hens. But with all the predators we have in our area my little hen and the chicks she was rearing were never harmed. It's a good start for your new 'chickentopia". I'm always adding on to my chicken digs. I joke that it's the Winchester Chicken Mystery House! It's interesting that I don't see any brackets on the corners of yours yet it looks at least as sturdy as mine if not more. I honestly think your chickens are doing fine!

 

[SobbaChickens]

Oh that is just their little "play pen" I built to get them out of the brooder during the day. It's the first thing I've ever built and it's held together by 8 small corner brackets, wood glue, a few nails, and about a million staples. But it's handled my daughter leaning on it, and the cat constantly sleeping on top of it so I guess I did good. They don't have a coop yet, my brother has been away at college so he is coming to help me out next week. I'm dying to get these girls out of my garage!

Thanks for your help. I'm feeling a lot more at ease. I'll update tomorrow after their snack or if I see any other troubles.


Katie

 

[chkn]

Dang, it must be the wood glue! Unbelievable good job! I'm doing an add on myself now. I've had the same coop forever. It was an overkill on materials and it will probably still be around in the next ice age. The add on is secure but not as buff but will give me more options (and it's nice to have options with chickens). You will have plenty of use for that little hutch in the future I'm sure.

 

[SobbaChickens]

Updated in first post