Cornish Cross chicks missing feathers ?

[kyron4]

First time raising Cornish Cross, got 4 chick that about 4 to 5 weeks old and they look terrible, as in ugly. Missing a lot of feathers on the back, tail, and belly. Some more than others. They seems fine , very plump, moving around the best they can , eating and drinking well. Is this normal ? I have read that the X chicken tend to look "ratty" Is this what they are referring to ? -Thanks

 

[ChickNanny13]

Pictures would help. Where did you get them from? What were the condition of the rest of the chicks you chose from? Have you checked them of parasites; mites/lice?

 

[kyron4]

I got them from the farm store, all fluffy healthy chicks in a stock tank. I see no parasites and all my egg laying chicks are fine. I'll try to post some pics tomorrow.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Normal. They go through and awkward ugly stage. Lol.

 

[Ridgerunner]

By 4 to 5 weeks they should be getting pretty close to fully feathered. I call the 3 to 4 week age of normal chickens the vulture phase. The feathers are coming in but in splotches, they tend to look ratty.

But CX are not necessarily normal chickens. They tend to grow so fast the feathers can't keep up. Photos are always appreciated but I think that's probably what you are seeing, another consequence of really fast growth. They can still handle cooler weather as if they did not have those bare spots, I would not be concerned. Turken, sometimes called Naked Necks, have absolutely no feathers on their necks and they are considered a cold weather breed.

 

[kyron4]

 

[Fairview01]

They're going to be ready to process 8n q couple more or three weeks. 0nce they're processed lack of feathers become a mute point.

Just saying.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yep that is what mine look like too, they just grow so fast.

 

[ambnett88]

It's normal. They grow so fast that they literally outgrow their feathers. They about the ugliest breed I've ever seen, like awkward little dinosaurs lol.

 

[MacGlaisinFarms]

Our kids call this ugly stage, dini's, because they look like dinosaurs and they are for dinner - hence dini's.