Feather question

[hillxmoose]

Okay, so I decided to raise chickens for my High School's FFA Organization. When I got them, I put them in a brooder box that belonged to my stepdad's cousin. I didn't realize that they would grow pretty fast. The box was suppose to be able to keep them for at least a month or two. But I had 20 birds, meat birds at that, that grew very fast. Well they got too big for their box and from a mixture of a) getting pretty crowded in there, and b) it getting pretty hot, they started picking their feathers off.

Now I got them in a larger pen about two or three weeks ago and they're doing just fine now. Most of them have grown a good amount of feathers on their back, but some their butts and under-wing area are still pretty featherless. They have little feather stubs. I'm just wanting to know if their feathers will grow back comepletely, because I have to show them in about two monthes. And if they will, is there a way to make them grow faster? My Ag teacher said to put a teaspoon of corn oil in their food, but I don't think he knows much about chickens, he's more of a pig specialist. And my grandpa told me to put a little bit of sugar in their water.

Please help a new chicken owner out! I'm clueless and I worry about my peeps.

 

[ddeans]

They will grow back, although I don't think they will be FULLY feathered in just 2 weeks if they only have little stubs..

And about the corn oil, I don't know how that would help, but I am curious as to what other people here say about that. Got my curiosity up too...

 

[debilorrah]

They will grow back just fine, don't worry. My 3 week olds have bald necks and there are only 4 of them in the brooder. They look pretty silly right around 4-6 weeks. Don't worry.

 

[Bandana]

Welcome!

As long as you are feeding them well, they should be fine. Don't know what part of the country you are in, but be sure they stay warm until they feather out.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

Are the meatbirds Cornish X's? If so, they never get "fully feathered" on their underside. They will grow their feathers back and be fine, just keep them warm.

What are you feeding them? They need a meatbird or starter crumble. A lot of people think that they only need scratch, but scratch is like candy, no nutritional value. They don't need sugar in their water unless they are acting lethargic. That's only good for them in the beginning.

 

[Smartie_Pants]

Where are you from, if I may ask?

 

[hillxmoose]

I'm from a little town in Texas. Thanks for all the advice, I feel a little better now that i know what I know now. Sadly, while i was gone on thanksgiving holiday, one of them died. I didn't know until today when I was putting food and water out for them.