She looks totally healthy and her rear end doesn't look like its been pecked at, but she has a total absence of down or feathers on her butt. Her vent is exposed and the bump above it where her tail should be is also devoid of feathers.
She's in a large grow-out brooder with 12 other chicks her age give a week either way. They have 24 square feet and are only 3 or four weeks old, plus most are light breeds so the space requirements are more than adequate (unless I'm doing my math wrong, which isn't impossible).
They have a red heat lamp on them day and night with average temps fluctuating from 85-100 (depending on this wacky weather we in Seattle are having). I've just put in a lamp with a 100 watt bulb in for daytime, so the heat should be lower now.
They have medicated chick starter with grit added, scratch thrown to them in small portions every few days. They have regular fresh water. The brooder is well-ventilated. Am I missing anything here, or should I be doing something else? Ought I to cover her bum with Blue-Kote to protect it from any possible pecking? Feedback appreciated!! This particular chick is my prized and much loved Partridge Penedesenca, so I REALLY want to make sure she thrives.
Thank you!
Here's a pic I took of her today which sort of shows the missing feathers. Also, she appears a bit small to me.
She's in a large grow-out brooder with 12 other chicks her age give a week either way. They have 24 square feet and are only 3 or four weeks old, plus most are light breeds so the space requirements are more than adequate (unless I'm doing my math wrong, which isn't impossible).
They have a red heat lamp on them day and night with average temps fluctuating from 85-100 (depending on this wacky weather we in Seattle are having). I've just put in a lamp with a 100 watt bulb in for daytime, so the heat should be lower now.
They have medicated chick starter with grit added, scratch thrown to them in small portions every few days. They have regular fresh water. The brooder is well-ventilated. Am I missing anything here, or should I be doing something else? Ought I to cover her bum with Blue-Kote to protect it from any possible pecking? Feedback appreciated!! This particular chick is my prized and much loved Partridge Penedesenca, so I REALLY want to make sure she thrives.
Thank you!
Here's a pic I took of her today which sort of shows the missing feathers. Also, she appears a bit small to me.
