Delayed Feathering?

[ohju1ia]

These are my divas. They are about 6 weeks old in this picture. Do you see the cutie in the back with all the bald spots? Well they are about 13 weeks old now and *she has feathered out mostly, still have a fluffy head and really fluffy butt.
What causes the small size and delayed feathering? After reading, a lot of posts pointed to "Roo's take longer to feather", but *her comb still is light pink and she doesn't have waddles yet.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Barred Rocks CAN feather slowly. The better the breeding and the better the barring in crispness the longer they take. It is possible that he is just expressing those genetics. It is also possible that he is simply a runt. That said, we've had more than one runt explode at 10 months and become the alpha rooster.

Good Shepherd Barred Rocks, a famous line of heritage, pure bred BRs are notorious for being almost still naked at 6 weeks.

Here's pair of ours from last year. It took a full 10 weeks for them to look like this.

 

[ohju1ia]

It is great to know that it is kind of common with the breed. Her barring is much nicer than her sibling. We are still hoping that she will be a she.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It is great to know that it is kind of common with the breed. Her barring is much nicer than her sibling. We are still hoping that she will be a she.

I honestly do not think it is a she. LOL But, time will tell. At 8 weeks, you'll know for a certainty. The cockerels start sprouting red wattles and little red combs, while the pullets show nothing but buff tan.

 

[ohju1ia]

Update: she is in face a she. She started laying this week and has laid an egg everyday since!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Well good for you!! How about a photo of her now? That'd be fun.

 

[rafu]

This is my first time owning quality barred rocks. This chick is a month old and naked.