Chicks losing down

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9281022

9281022

In the Brooder
Mar 31, 2016
78
3
43
Ohio
My babies were just born on Monday, I have noticed their little wings thinning of their down. Is this normal for so young?

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Their feathers are coming in - the wings feather first and they are right on schedule for that at this age. Sometimes the down sheds as they feather, sometimes areas will shed prior to the feathering actually coming in resulting in a bit of balding look.
 
Okay wonderful, thanks so much! I am new and did not realize it happened at only a few days old. Good to know!
 
It's crazy just how fast they change and grow!
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Yes it is! I am really dumbfounded!
 
Now that I am thinking about it, is it painful? Monday they had no problem with my holding them & cooing at them and yesterday they acted like I was killing them! Squawking & throwing a fit, they could NOT wait to be put down.
 
If you're new at chicks, then perhaps you aren't aware that how you approach them makes the difference between calm and friendly and scared and stressed.

They have an instinct to fear anything coming at them from above, so you need to slowly come at them on their level from the side. Better yet, when going to pick up a chick, lay your hand flat on the brooder floor and slowly slide it up to the chick's feet, nudging the chick gently until it steps onto your hand, then slide the other hand in to cup the chick with both hands and lift out of the brooder.
 
azygous said:
If you're new at chicks, then perhaps you aren't aware that how you approach them makes the difference between calm and friendly and scared and stressed.

They have an instinct to fear anything coming at them from above, so you need to slowly come at them on their level from the side. Better yet, when going to pick up a chick, lay your hand flat on the brooder floor and slowly slide it up to the chick's feet, nudging the chick gently until it steps onto your hand, then slide the other hand in to cup the chick with both hands and lift out of the brooder.
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I always coo at them first, "Hello ladies" or "Hello little girls" then I place my hand in and I do lay it flat to let them investigate, while still talking to them. Then I'll either touch their little feet or move my hand to their backs. Then I go ahead to pick them up. Love rubbing their little heads! That they do like, yesterday maybe was just an off day for them...today they were back to being fine. Finicky little things!


They were investigating my camera!

Dylan (I love this name used for a female!)


Marilyn (as in Monroe)



Sophie (I guess from The Walking Dead-I dunno this one is my son's lol)
 
AWWW I LOVE BABIES CHICKENS!!! I have some right now I was wondering how long it takes them to be completely covered in feathers?
 

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