Changing fur texture of chicks

[Hadia Zahoor 118]

I got 6 chicks from a pet store 2 weeks earlier. Now only 2 are alive. They have grown quite a bit. They are eating chick feed provided by the pet shop but recently they have stopped eating that feed. I have to mix it with water,make a paste and then they eat it. they have stoppped sleeping on their own and they sleep only on my lap. Now their fur is turning rough, pointy & sticking out. Is it normal???

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I’m not sure what is going on with your chicks but hopefully someone will be along soon to help

 

[Cyprus]

Fur? Do you mean down? Chicks don't have fur, they're birds.

I'm guessing you got some frizzled Cochin bantam chicks. In which case, this is normal. Give us some pics and we can confirm.

As for the eating, and losses, are you providing them with heat?

 

[Cyprus]

Also, in case you weren't aware, chicks don't keep their down forever.

 

[AltonaAcres]

I bet the chicks are just growing their adult feathers.

 

[NNYchick]

I agree they are probably starting to grow their adult feathers. Post pictures we can tell you if it’s normal. What happened to the other 4?
They will eat the crumble if that’s what you put in the brooder, adding water won’t hurt them but you’ll have to make small batches they can eat up in an hour or two multiple times a day so that it doesn’t go bad and they get enough to eat.
Is you brooder to hot, maybe that’s why they want to be out with you?

 

[chickens really]

Stop wetting the feed and stop answering to them when they peep..They are growing feathers as they should.

 

[AltonaAcres]

What kind of feed did the pet store provide?

 

[jolenesdad]

Can you get a picture of the bag of food?

Chicks go through several molts and get new sets of feathers that look prickly when they come out.

What are you keeping them in? There is a chance they’re too hot or cold and that’s why some died.

If you take a photo with your phone, right below where you type a reply to a post you’ll see “upload a file” and you can attach a photo.

 

[123RedBeard]

A couple of guesses ...

OP is not in North America ... I'm not aware of "pet stores" selling chicks ... maybe I just don't go to the right kind?

OP is a first time chick(en) owner.

The chicks "fur" is really "fuzz" which is shed, and replaced with "pin feather" that grow into feathers ... which molt (fall) out ... quite few times ...

Location would help, breed would help, pictures would help too ...