Chick not feathering out

[StonyCreekCC]

I have 12 'lorp pullets about 8 weeks old. Most of them are completely feathered out. One, however, is not. She doesn't even have wing feathers. I'm calling her my naked chicken. Any idea what is causing this? They are being fed an all flock feed since I have older girls and a roo as well.

 

[Judy]

If they don't have lice/mites, it may just be a difference in growth rate. I believe males feather more slowly than females, to some degree. If your feed isn't about 20% protein, you might try adding a bit of protein, such as a scrambled egg.

 

[CherishHolland]

My Lorp Pippy is the same way he is slow feathering so he gets a special treat of eggs and raisins a couple times a week. His sister Cleo has all her feathers. I also give them (the whole flock) crudely mashed beans.

 

[debid]

8 weeks and not even wing feathers? Sounds like something isn't right. Someone posted pics recently of naked chicks -- feathered on the head but not the body. I think it has to be a genetic issue.

 

[StonyCreekCC]

Debid, that's what I was thinking. If all the others are normal for their age I don't think anything is wrong with their diet.

Should I isolate her from the others and try giving her extra protein just to be on the safe side?

 

[debid]

It won't hurt anything to try the high-protein approach but if you aren't even seeing any pins... I don't know. If you're OK with the idea, you could raise it to butchering size. I wouldn't want to keep one that cannot survive winter so I'd make peace with the idea that this one was meant to be someone's dinner -- whether you do it or give it to someone who will.

 

[StonyCreekCC]

Thanks for the replies. I will isolate her and try some high protein feed. If need be she can go to the freezer be it mine or someone else's.

 

[StonyCreekCC]

I put my poor little naked chicken outside. She is still isolated in her own pen with shelter/food/water. She still looks pathetic. She is all healed up from where the other girls were picking on her. I think I am just going to keep her around and let her lay eggs. I just won't let a rooster near her in case whatever issue she has is genetic. Here are a few pictures of her I took today. You can see she has feathers on her head and neck and a few wing feathers but otherwise she is still essentially "naked".




https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6482685/naked-chick/sort/display_order

 

[NotableNancy]

I put my poor little naked chicken outside. She is still isolated in her own pen with shelter/food/water. She still looks pathetic. She is all healed up from where the other girls were picking on her. I think I am just going to keep her around and let her lay eggs. I just won't let a rooster near her in case whatever issue she has is genetic. Here are a few pictures of her I took today. You can see she has feathers on her head and neck and a few wing feathers but otherwise she is still essentially "naked".

Maybe it's my computer but I can't see your pics. But I have a CW that at 13 weeks is finally feathering. She had her baby fluff, and still has a lot, and her back was pretty bare while all my other pullets of different breeds feathered in fine. I think it just takes a bit of time for some of them. Can't be what you are feeding because the others are eating the same thing and are fine. I'd just wait a while and see what happens. I'm very new to chickens but she may end up completely fine and was just slower to feather than your other chicks. Just like people growing at different rates, maybe chicks can naturally feather at different rates too?
Just a 'newbie's' opinion. Good luck with you chicks!!

 

[StonyCreekCC]

I put up a link. I think it will work for you now.

Thanks for your opinion. It could definitely be she's just growing slower. My other girls and roo are mean suckers and have tried to peck her to death. She's been inside for maybe a week now to heal up and now I'm glad she's outside.