3 chicks missing feathers

[babyelle]

i have 7 bantams in various breeds, three are most likely cochins and they are all missing feathers on their shoulder blades (where the bony part of their wing bends). they are 5 weeks old and in a fairly large brooder box with 7- 5 week old standard chicks. they do have an outdoor space during the day...it is actually our garden box that we will be planting soon. anyway, i never see any fighting or problems among the flock. some roost while they sleep but many like to cuddle up together. these three are always in a sleeping heap of chicks...is it possible that the feathers are just being worn off? why would it just be these three? is this common? i haven't made any changes to their habitat yet but i don't want to be negligent if this is a problem.

 

[Miyashi]

Might be all the snuggling...I dunno...mine snuggle and they don't have that issue.

I hope someone can help you out and I hope it's nothing to worry about.

 

[babyelle]

is it common for chicks to lose their downy feathers completely before their real/adult feathers come in?

 

[WallTenters]

No, they will usually go through stages - usually the wings are first, then the oh-so-cute tails (teehee). Sounds like your cochins are just growing - if they have down there, don't worry, they aren't missing feathers yet, they just haven't grown them in yet! Maybe a picture would help clear things up. Sometimes they go through these super ugly teenage stages and you're like "WAH? You're going to grow into my beautiful puffballs?!"

 

[Miyashi]

Oh the goofy stages!
xD
Silkies look really special at one point.
Poor things.

 

[WallTenters]

You should see a Marans... Poor things. By then the Dominiques are all but completely feathered in and the Marans have huge legs with tons of feathers on them and none on their shoulders. Awful.

 

[babyelle]

too funny. my other chicks are really becoming beautiful and didn't have much of a "dorky" stage. these poor little girls are taking it for the rest then...even their necks are scraggly and bare. they look awful:/