Chicks with coarse dry fuzz--like a wiry dog's hair

[Tumbleweed Farm]

This is a new one for me--I've had 10 chicks hatch out yesterday and today, all fine and uneventful but the last 2. They came out wet and sticky--I'm pretty sure the humidity really spiked because so many hatched at once. Both of them had gummed up eyes. I rinsed both as well as I could and got them to their warm nest. They seem fine but what is with this? I've 3 more left to hatch. What in the world causes this dog hair look? Very coarse and wiry looking--not normal chick fuzz.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I really need help. I tried washing one again it wont come off and I nearly drowned him. O am so upset.

 

[bobbi-j]

I'd just let it be and see what happens in a day or two. They lose their fuzz quickly anyway.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Thanks

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

I'd just let it be and see what happens in a day or two. They lose their fuzz quickly anyway. 

Do you know what could have caused this?

 

[WalnutHill]

Are they all the same variety of chick? My chicken chicks, assorted bantams and Cornish X, all have "downy chick fuzz". My turkey poults have what to all intents and purposes is much more like hair than fuzz.

Did you towel dry your chicks after washing them? If so, just the toweling could have de-fluffed the down that was cleaned by washing.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Are they all the same variety of chick?  My chicken chicks, assorted bantams and Cornish X, all have "downy chick fuzz".  My turkey poults have what to all intents and purposes is much more like hair than fuzz.

Did you towel dry your chicks after washing them?  If so, just the toweling could have de-fluffed the down that was cleaned by washing.

They are Plymouth Rocks. The three that hatched first are normal. Chick fuzz. These 2 are gummy gluey and medsed up

 

[bobbi-j]

I don't know what could have caused it. Maybe it's just the gummy gluey stuff causing the stiffness in the fuzz. If they're OK, otherwise, I'd still just let them be.

 

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Neither could walk and they both died last night about 8 hrs after hatch.

 

[bobbi-j]

Oh, that's too bad. Sorry to hear that. Maybe there was something else going on that you couldn't see.