7 week old losing feather

[Joeyjjj]

Advice needed: these girls are 7 weeks old and we still keep them in the brooder but plan to move them out in the next few days. Last week we started to notice they all lose feathers, not a lot but maybe two or three a day. I am just concerned is losing feather at this age normal? They all eat drink and walk fine and we don't see bully behavior. We tried dust bath today but they were just not interested. It's our first time raising chickens and I'm just a naturally worried mama. Thank you all in advance.

 

[Purple_grape84]

Maybe look up juvenile molting. My understanding is that the feathers don't grow with the chicks so they lose them to grow larger feathers to go with their larger bodies.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

The first poster is correct and juvenile birds got through several MINI molts on their way to maturity. This is how their color changes take place and such. Yes it's completely normal as you describe it. They should not go full blown molt and get bald spots like some older birds might.

If you're still providing heat... maybe ease back.. 80 is quite warm and they look feathered in well.

Is that an Easter Egger in the corner... looks like it's already sporting male saddle feathers... but that isn't possible at 7 weeks. So either it's an illusion of the feather pattern making them look pointy or "he" is older. ETA: color still looks female.

Lovely mixed flock!

 

[Joeyjjj]

Thank you very much for the reply. Very helpful information.

Which one do you think might be a rooster? These four were all hatched the first week of April. The one staying far from the corner is production blue (which I don't see quite mentioned in my research), and the three in the corner from left to right is Ameraucana, gold sexlink and black sexlink. It's just amazing that they look so different and pretty now while they were just yellow and black fluffy baby chicks when we bought them.

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

The first poster is correct and juvenile birds got through several MINI molts on their way to maturity. This is how their color changes take place and such. Yes it's completely normal as you describe it. They should not go full blown molt and get bald spots like some older birds might.

If you're still providing heat... maybe ease back.. 80 is quite warm and they look feathered in well.

Is that an Easter Egger in the corner... looks like it's already sporting male saddle feathers... but that isn't possible at 7 weeks. So either it's an illusion of the feather pattern making them look pointy or "he" is older. ETA: color still looks female.

Lovely mixed flock!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Which one do you think might be a rooster?

Since your hatch date is the same for all and accurate.. I think it's just the pattern making the saddle feathers on the Easter Egger... often sold as Ameraucana... but actually just supposed to a nice representation of the breed. I love EE, mine has almost that same pattern.

Huh, this is the first I heard of production blue... maybe a new cross? Blue is pone of my favorite chicken colors. Are you in the US? Adding your general location can help peeps make their best suggestion possible at a glance in thew future. Further research shows the production blue has been around for a short while at least. Sounds like an interesting breed.

Oh no... black sex link females SHOULD be solid black as far as I know. And males should have a white spot on the head at hatch and be barred once mature. Did they come from a hatchery?

 

[Joeyjjj]

I'm in Seattle, WA. I bought all these four at a local feed store. The store owner did say there is 10% chance that the sexlink might turn out to be a rooster. I attached another two photos of the black sexlink. What do you think?
Thank you a lot.

Since your hatch date is the same for all and accurate.. I think it's just the pattern making the saddle feathers on the Easter Egger... often sold as Ameraucana... but actually just supposed to a nice representation of the breed. I love EE, mine has almost that same pattern.

Huh, this is the first I heard of production blue... maybe a new cross? Blue is pone of my favorite chicken colors. Are you in the US? Adding your general location can help peeps make their best suggestion possible at a glance in thew future. Further research shows the production blue has been around for a short while at least. Sounds like an interesting breed.

Oh no... black sex link females SHOULD be solid black as far as I know. And males should have a white spot on the head at hatch and be barred once mature. Did they come from a hatchery?

 

[Anj]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

The first poster is correct and juvenile birds got through several MINI molts on their way to maturity. This is how their color changes take place and such. Yes it's completely normal as you describe it. They should not go full blown molt and get bald spots like some older birds might.

If you're still providing heat... maybe ease back.. 80 is quite warm and they look feathered in well.

Is that an Easter Egger in the corner... looks like it's already sporting male saddle feathers... but that isn't possible at 7 weeks. So either it's an illusion of the feather pattern making them look pointy or "he" is older. ETA: color still looks female.

Lovely mixed flock!

Looks like my Easter Eggers at 7 weeks!
They have those markings exactly-
Definitely 7 weeks old too as I’ve had them from birth.