CX 4 week old chicks have bare bellies

[AbbyDog]

I read that they often have problems feathering out, but is this normal? All 10 of my chicks have bare bellies, now that their chick fluff has fallen out. They are out during the day when it is sunny, and I was getting ready to have them stay outside at night in a coop rather than going into their (rapidly getting too small) cardboard box ...but will they stay warm enough?

 

[PlumpChicken]

I had 50 that I had in a outdoor open front shelter once they outgrew the shelter I had them in. They did alright I had 2 lamps on them that the sat under at night.

 

[erinchelsea]

That's normal, they'll be fine.

 

[AbbyDog]

thanks. It just feels so weird when I pick them up and their bellies are so warm and...naked!

 

[booker81]

It's totally normal - their breast muscles grow so fast that there isn't enough feathers to cover it, and they have a tendency to just sit around and that doesn't help breast feather growth.

Just aim to keep their bedding or area clean and dry, as much as you can. They generate a lot of heat from growing, and will show you if they're cold - mine always seem to be good to go off the lamp much, much sooner than my layer chicks do.

Just think though - the less feathers, the less plucking