Chicks rate of 'feathering out'?

[fluffpuffgerbil]

Okay, so I've always been confused on my chicks' ages because when they were younger and I'd compare them to other chicks on here, mine seemed to have been a lot more feathered out? All of mine have feathered about the same rate, and at 8 weeks old, look like mini adults. But when they were 5 weeks old, they were all almost completely feathered, where when I see other 5 week old chickens, they look at least two weeks younger than mine!! Someone confirmed that mine were probably a day to a few days old when I got them, so they are indeed the ages I've always assumed they were, they just looked a lot more... mature? than other chicks when they were younger.

Maybe it has to do with quality of chicks, habitat, and temperature? I don't know why this is baffling me so much, it just shocks me when I see partially feathered chicks on here and someone is like: They're 5 weeks old'', and look NOTHING like mine did at 5 weeks?

 

[Granny Hatchet]

temps and type both play a role in how fast they mature. the colder the faster. and some just mature faster like bantams , they grow up fast. they can continue to grow after they are feathered out good.

 

[Blooie]

Okay, so I've always been confused on my chicks' ages because when they were younger and I'd compare them to other chicks on here, mine seemed to have been a lot more feathered out? All of mine have feathered about the same rate, and at 8 weeks old, look like mini adults. But when they were 5 weeks old, they were all almost completely feathered, where when I see other 5 week old chickens, they look at least two weeks younger than mine!! Someone confirmed that mine were probably a day to a few days old when I got them, so they are indeed the ages I've always assumed they were, they just looked a lot more... mature? than other chicks when they were younger.

Maybe it has to do with quality of chicks, habitat, and temperature? I don't know why this is baffling me so much, it just shocks me when I see partially feathered chicks on here and someone is like: They're 5 weeks old'', and look NOTHING like mine did at 5 weeks?

You mean like these? 5 weeks and 3 days....hatched February 24th.

 

[fluffpuffgerbil]

Hmm, I think I've seen some 5 week olds less feathered than that on here((all of your chicks are super cute btw, I like the one in the last pic with the greenish legs and tan to white feathers))


here are some pics of mine at about 5.5 weeks











I don't know why i'm so concerned about this, it's just strange how different some 5 week olds look from mine

mine were brooded in my bedroom or the first 3 weeks I think and then I moved them to the garage where it definitely is a lot colder, but they still have their heat lamp. (They're 8 weeks old now... I'm not sure if they still need it at all anymore... it's lingering in the 50s-60s I think in the garage)

 

[Blooie]

Hmm, I think I've seen some 5 week olds less feathered than that on here((all of your chicks are super cute btw, I like the one in the last pic with the greenish legs and tan to white feathers))


here are some pics of mine at about 5.5 weeks











I don't know why i'm so concerned about this, it's just strange how different some 5 week olds look from mine

mine were brooded in my bedroom or the first 3 weeks I think and then I moved them to the garage where it definitely is a lot colder, but they still have their heat lamp. (They're 8 weeks old now... I'm not sure if they still need it at all anymore... it's lingering in the 50s-60s I think in the garage)

You know, I do think that yours at 5.5 weeks were more feathered out than mine, but not by a whole lot. Thank you, by the way...the little white and reddish one with the green feet is Agatha, one of our Easter Eggers. Mine were brooded in my husband's office until two days ago, when they went out to their new coop. I didn't turn the heat lamp off on them until about a week ago. Our temps have been in the 20's with lots of snow since they went out, but the lamp is in there. I swear I can hear the feathers growing since they went out! Someone I respect very much, Beekissed, told me that she believes that chicks exposed to "normal" temperatures without artificial heat for such a long period of time, feather out faster. She says chicks with the mother hen will wander around in the chilly air, explore, learn, and when they get chilly they run back under mom for a quick warm up. They usually grow up strong, feather quickly, and have fewer problems than those like me who over baby them. She's probably right - she's got this great system using a heating pad, a wire support, and brooding them outside, and it seems to be working great for her and others who do the same. That's exactly how my next chicks will be raised. I've heard others say the same thing. You have a bunch of cuties on your hands as well!

 

[fluffpuffgerbil]

Awh all the easter eggers are so pretty. We were going to get one instead of our Australorp, but the feedstore had all their EEs reserved and since my sister wanted a black chicken, we went with the BA. I definitely worry mine get too cold, but I probably worry too much. I need to clean the brooder within the next few days, and maybe then I'll go and turn down the heat lamp so they can get used to cooler temps. Besides, they have each other to snuggle next to if they really need it. And thanks, I do think my chicks are pretty cute, but I think all chickens in general are adorable<3

 

[Blooie]

temps and type both play a role in how fast they mature. the colder the faster. and some just mature faster like bantams , they grow up fast. they can continue to grow after they are feathered out good.

Amen! I'm learning that, finally! And I think it also depends on the breed and the gender somewhat too, doesn't it Granny? Oh, me......I have so much to learn! But I have to admit that I'm enjoying the classes tremendously!

 

[ShockValue]

Mine were born 3/7 and no where near that feathered. Should I be concerned?

 

[fluffpuffgerbil]

Amen! I'm learning that, finally! And I think it also depends on the breed and the gender somewhat too, doesn't it Granny? Oh, me......I have so much to learn! But I have to admit that I'm enjoying the classes tremendously!

I have 6 different breeds(5 actually, I have two Wyandottes, one's just SL and the other is GL) and I think they all mostly feathered at the same rate, my ancona feathering the quickest with my SLW and GLW right behind her. But they all were mostly feathered all the same by 6 weeks. It's all definitely a learning experience and a fun one, too!!

Mine were born 3/7 and no where near that feathered. Should I be concerned?

I don't think you should be concerned or worry about it. They'll be 4 weeks old tomorrow then, right?
I guess independent factors based off the chickens themselves and their habitat/care/etc might cause different feathering rates like stated above... But mine definitely were a lot more feathered then.... At 1 month old, this is my RIR cockerel and my GLW pullet. To be honest, I think I seem more four week olds looking more like yours than mine, which is what's confusing me

 

[Granny Hatchet]

Amen! I'm learning that, finally! And I think it also depends on the breed and the gender somewhat too, doesn't it Granny? Oh, me......I have so much to learn! But I have to admit that I'm enjoying the classes tremendously!

yes, sometimes i talk to fast, when i said temp and TYPE that is what i meant. i should of said breed. sometimes words dont come right in ol grannys vocabulary. lol