Baby chicks - when do they change colour?

[Silkie Mummy]

My Silkie Daisy has hatched two Isa Brown eggs and is now a VERY proud and loving mum. I am wondering though, when does the yellow chick colour start to change, can anyone tell me please? Thank you!

 

[Olive Hill]

As soon as they start growing feathers. So, within hours of hatch. Even on a day old chick if you spread the wing and look at the tips you can see the flight feathers starting to come in. By 3 weeks much of the body will have a smattering of regular feathers and by 6-8 weeks they should be largely feathered out.

ISA Browns are hybrids so do not necessarily breed true. Usually their offspring are red-brown, but just like ISAs themselves vary you may get a variety of shades in your chicks. And if you bred the ISAs to a different breed of rooster the possibilities depend on his genetics as well.

 

[Silkie Mummy]

Thank you, Olive! I'll have a look at the feathers today.

 

[Olive Hill]

Aww! I didn't see the pictures before. Beautiful little babies. Looks like they're going to be red to me.