Bald Bellies and Butts - Normal?

[homesteader]

Our Cornish X are 3 weeks old and their entire underside and little butts are completely bald. They rubbed off all of their chick down. Their feathers are coming in nicely, but I don't know if their bellies will grow feathers. They sit around on their bellies all day. Could that be causing it?

Is this normal? Is this what people call breast blisters? What do I do?

 

[greyfields]

It's a little bit that they lay down so much the feathers are rubbed off; the other part is Cornish X grow quicker than their feathers can keep up. So yes, all Cornish X will be half bald most the time.

I've been experimenting with slower growing meat birds (Freedom Rangers). They have all kept in full feather as they've grown.

 

[silkiechicken]

It is normal for them, they just drag themselves and sit around all day. You know they are gong to be food right? So not to worry, they will be on the table before you know it.

 

[UncleHoot]

Yep, that was a question that I had awhile back for my friend who raises meat chickens. For my Cornish Crosses, their bellies never really grew feathers. It didn't seem to cause them any problems though. As for their butts, some of those went bald, and others didn't. And some are cleaner than others, which seems to make them feather-out more.

I have "Cornish Roasters" from McMurray in this batch, and they still look about the same as the Cornish Cross that I had before. I think they are bit more active, and better foragers, but for the most part, they look and act about the same.