3 chicks lacking back and shoulder feathers

[ESofVA]

I hatched about 25 Faverolles x Silkie chicks in 2 batches and they are now about 6 weeks old. 21 of them have complete feathering. 4 ( 2 chicks in the 1st batch, 2 in the second batch and there are only a total of 6 chicks in the 2nd batch) are not growing feathers on their backs or shoulders. It is NOT dues to mites, lice, or feather picking .(Can't pick off what is not there to begin with!) Any ideas why??? They are just not growing in. The shoulders do have down on 3 of them, 1 of them looks like maybe 4 feathers are growing in one tiny back strip to the side...no down.
The normal chicks are quite fluffy but are feathered.They eat SS chick starter and they are free range during the day.

 

[lazy gardener]

I hatched about 25 Faverolles x Silkie chicks in 2 batches and they are now about 6 weeks old. 21 of them have complete feathering. 4 ( 2 chicks in the 1st batch, 2 in the second batch and there are only a total of 6 chicks in the 2nd batch) are not growing feathers on their backs or shoulders. It is NOT dues to mites, lice, or feather picking .(Can't pick off what is not there to begin with!) Any ideas why??? They are just not growing in. The shoulders do have down on 3 of them, 1 of them looks like maybe 4 feathers are growing in one tiny back strip to the side...no down.
The normal chicks are quite fluffy but are feathered.They eat SS chick starter and they are free range during the day.

I don't know about your breeds if there is any genetics going on there, but I had a BSL hatch without any down on her back and across one hip. That area was extremely slow to feather in, and when it started, it looked like sparse very thick "beard" hair growing in. She was absolutely ugly, and if I was culling birds based on potential, she'd have been the first to go. She is now absolutely gorgeous. My mental ramblings had me wondering if she was laying against the shell in that area and "got stuck".

 

[ESofVA]

Well, after all of this time the feathers are beginning to grow in. They hatched between the first of Apr and the middle of April. 2 months! All of the ones like this...about 5...that are solid black from the 21 that hatched are like this...none of the other 3 colors were.

 

[CherishHolland]

Give them a little protein boost, beans, raisins,cat food,scrambled eggs or hard boiled. I have an Australorp who was having feathering issues so she got special treats. 1 month later her thighs,shoulders and little bum all began to feather in nicely,now when you look at her you would never know she was a baldy. Best of Luck

 

[ESofVA]

They are free ranging and still getting SS chick crumbles. I have added some cracked corn as my Spizthaubens seem to really enjoy that and I know they are finding lots of worms and bugs. I really enjoy watching them out running around. I let my bantams and my feather-footed youngsters live outside of the chicken pen and they sleep at night in a plastic dog crate (I close them in at night)that I keep covered with a tarp to make sure the rain doesn't get in. Also will protect them from that 3 legged fox from getting them that I keep seeing in the pasture and worrying about.
Deb

 

[Eggcessive]

With my heritage Rhode Island Reds, the ones that were slow to feather in on their shoulders and tails have turned out to be cockerels.

 

[ESofVA]

Hmmmmm....I will check but I think they would have feathered in faster than this.