Chicks Fluff Dried Stiff?

[cmitchell]

This little BCM's fluff has dried stiff from egg membrane, not fluffy. Should I take a damp, warm wash clothe and clean it?

 

[LTygress]

No, I wouldn't use water on him at all. Chicks do this a lot when they are hatched from an incubator. When they are under a broody hen, the down gets fluffed up as they rub against her feathers as she "sits" on them.

If he has the company of other chicks, he'll eventually rub up against them enough to fluff it back out. If not, you can get a DRY wash cloth (maybe straight from the dryer, so it's warm, but DRY) and pet him with it to loosen it up. But for the most part, I just leave mine alone, make sure the brooder is warm enough for them, and let nature take it's course.