Crest development in chicks?

[mrsdee]

Generally speaking, when will you be able to tell if your chicks will grow a crest? I've got 19 chicks all fathered by a cream created legbar (with an actaul crest). With His first batch of babies I feel like I could see their crest developing very early but with these chicks I can't tell! Do you only start to notice when they grow their head feathers?

 

[Bunnylady]

I haven't dealt with legbars, but my experience with Silkies, Polish, EE's and their crosses has led me to the conclusion that whatever the adult plumage is going to do is pretty much foreshadowed in their chick fluff. A bearded adult had beard-like fluff as a chick; chicks of crested breeds often look like they have half of a pompom glued to the tops of their heads. A breed or cross that doesn't have a really big, full, poofy crest may not have as much, but some sign of it should be there.

 

[mrsdee]

I haven't dealt with legbars, but my experience with Silkies, Polish, EE's and their crosses has led me to the conclusion that whatever the adult plumage is going to do is pretty much foreshadowed in their chick fluff. A bearded adult had beard-like fluff as a chick; chicks of crested breeds often look like they have half of a pompom glued to the tops of their heads. A breed or cross that doesn't have a really big, full, poofy crest may not have as much, but some sign of it should be there.

Yeah. I feel like all my first chicks had little bumps on their chick fluff though I can't remember how bit it was. And every single one had it (ccl x bcm). And I'm not seeing ANY of these chicks with anything pronounced. Which I think is weird! Goes from all having crests to now none so far? Maybe they'll be small and won't show up until the feather. Who knows.

 

[chuckachucka]

How old are the chicks? It's entirely possible for a baby chick to have no sign of crest fluff and then develop a crest later. Here is my silkie pullet at a day old and then two months old:

 

[mrsdee]

How old are the chicks? It's entirely possible for a baby chick to have no sign of crest fluff and then develop a crest later. Here is my silkie pullet at a day old and then two months old:

Awesome! I was hoping most of these would have crests so you just renewed my hope lol. They are just over a week old now. beautiful bird btw!