Cornish X With Very Few Feathers

[jenikay63]

I have 50 Jumbo Cornish X that are 4 1/2 weeks old. I got them from Murry McMurry. They weigh between 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. My question/concern is that they have very few feathers. It's almost as if they grow too fast for the feathers to keep up with their stretching skin. Is this normal? Will they eventually get more feathers? We plan to butcher them in about 4 weeks. They are very lazy birds---they basically eat and poop all day long. There feet and legs are HUGE and very thick, which is understandable as they need to support their large bodies. I just think it is odd that they don't have many feathers and I can see their skin when they stretch out.

 

[houndit]

That is the Cornish hybrids for you. I was at first alarmed by the fact that they did not have feathers. They are fine. They usually get a few more feathers later. You hit the nail on the head when you said that they poop and eat all day. They are the most boring bird!

 

[cassie]

They just grow too fast for their feathers to keep up.

 

[card5640]

All is normal, We call them our bowling balls on legs. My health nut son thinks they mirror many lazy Americans.

 

[jaku]

Yup, perfectly normal. And when they do get feathers, they get caked in poo. Lovely birds, eh? It makes scalding disgusting!