Featherless coturnix quail chick

[nordahlbunch]

I have a coturnix quail chick that was hatched with no down. Now the other hatchlings are almost feathered in and this quail chick has much less feathering. Anyone heard of this?

 

[Erkenstein]

Very strange. I found this about mutations, including a mutation that causes slow feathering: http://www.edelras.nl/chickengenetics/mutations2.html#gen_mut_slow

It will be interesting to see how it develops.

 

[DK newbie]

If it was hatched on it's own, I suppose you put it with the others at some point? Could they be plucking it because it's the new guy in class? Its back looks a lot like what my buttons' backs look like when they have been plucked..

 

[nordahlbunch]

If it was hatched on it's own, I suppose you put it with the others at some point? Could they be plucking it because it's the new guy in class? Its back looks a lot like what my buttons' backs look like when they have been plucked..

It hatched with the others, and looked strange right away. Doesn't get picked on and seems strong and healthy otherwise. I think the back is adult feathers starting to grow in? I agree it looks picked on from the back but theres no redness or irritation, and the whole head is without feathering along with chest, legs, etc.