Curling Wing Feathers - Welsummer

[DBLakeChickens]

I don't have a picture, right now, but I'm becoming concerned about my Welsummer chick. At three weeks old, she's really starting to feather in on her wings, so now there is no question. Her wing feathers curl/flip out at the bottom. All the other chicks in the brooder have feathers that lay smooth, but hers look like someone took a curling iron to the bottom half inch.

Does anyone have an idea what could be causing this and if she is okay?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Hmmm sounds like a frizzle!

Could she have frizzle blood in her?

 

[DBLakeChickens]

She's supposed to be just Welsummer, but I guess all breeds can have frizzle... looking up pics of frizzled chicks, that is definitely what her wings look like!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

She's supposed to be just Welsummer, but I guess all breeds can have frizzle... looking up pics of frizzled chicks, that is definitely what her wings look like!

Did she come from a hatchery?

 

[DBLakeChickens]

We bought her at a farm, but the chicks come from Ideal Poultry.

 

[debid]

I'd guess that the farm does not breed Welsummers but has a Welsummer rooster with a variety of hens, one of which if a frizzled gal. Probably a Cochin. If she happens to lay eggs that are similar in appearance to their Welsummer hen's eggs, it could have been an honest mistake.

ETA: Did you mean the farm bought chicks and is reselling or that their flock came from Ideal? Frizzled is not a gene that hides so if you were thinking that you have a chick that came from two smooth feathered parents, that cannot be the case. But if they bought a bunch of chicks and you have a frizzle, it's not a Welsummer at all.

 

[DBLakeChickens]

Quote: The farm sells chicks bought from Ideal Poultry. It looked like a Welsummer chick as far as my newbie eyes could tell, and they didn't have any frizzles for sale at that time. I don't know if it is a frizzle... Some of the feathers seem to be growing in upside down rather than curving.

 

[debid]

Maybe you should post a picture. Feathers can stick out a little during awkward phases but curling outward would be a sure sign of frizzled feathers. Any duckwing patterned bird (including partridge Cochin) begins life as a chipmunk striped puffball.

 

[DBLakeChickens]

I'm trying to get this picture, but these are the best I can do so far... I cannot get my camera to cooperate!

 

[DBLakeChickens]

This might be a little better