Inflamed follicles on 6 week old chick, no tail feathers.

[babybop11]

How do I help her!!! I posted yesterday about my chick who had irritated skin in a bald area on her back. Someone suggested a potential issue with the preen gland. Upon inspection, I found several inflamed follicles. I should also add that she is the only of 4 of the same age that isn’t fully feathered and only has fluff where tail feathers should be. Was suspecting she could be a he. She seems so uncomfortable and if this is why she’s pecking herself does anyone know how I can help her with these inflamed areas??

 

[babybop11]

@Eggcessive Wanted to tag you because you were so helpful yesterday!

 

[Eggcessive]

I have never seen ingrown feathers on a young chick, but ingrown feathers can cause small skin abscesses. Those may need to be lanced and the pus squeezed out. But since this is a young chick, and it looks more like feather picking, I would try to rule out lice or mites. What are you feeding the chicks? What type of bedding? You could try using some hydrocortisone cream on the areas to soothe it.

 

[babybop11]

I have never seen ingrown feathers on a young chick, but ingrown feathers can cause small skin abscesses. Those may need to be lanced and the pus squeezed out. But since this is a young chick, and it looks more like feather picking, I would try to rule out lice or mites. What are you feeding the chicks? What type of bedding? You could try using some hydrocortisone cream on the areas to soothe it.

They have shavings for bedding and medicated chick crumbles for food. I don’t see any mites or lice, how would I treat for those just to be safe?