Feathers aren't right UPDATE W/PIC

[newlyweds]

I had a chick whose feathers kinda stuck out the first few weeks but then looked normal as they grew longer, maybe that's the same with this chick and it's slow feathering.

 

[DragonEggs]

Yes, I just double checked and buff orps have flesh colored legs and lavenders have some to all dark coloring. Everything about your chick seems like a normal orp chick except that feathering. Here is a pic from another thread of a silkie chicks wing feathering.

Look similar?

ETA: spelling corrections

 

[Brindlebtch]

I have a couple of BLRW runts with similar feathering issues. I started scrambling them eggs and adding vitamins and yogurt and they both picked up. Just need some extra protein to make feathers and some vits and enzymes. Hope this works for you.

 

[Tomhusker]

Thanks, I'll work on getting more protein to her, maybe isolate her during treat time to make sure she gets a good dose. Vitamins and other supplements are new to me though. Open for suggestions there.

 

[Tomhusker]

Quote:
Those feathers look quite a bit finer than the ones I am seeing on my girl.

 

[DragonEggs]

Then it's probably just some slow feathering. Have you started putting them outside to free range yet? Usually once you put them outside for awhile they all start to even out.

 

[Tomhusker]

Quote:
They spend several hours outside, most days, in a portable run I made for them.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Are they getting a good quality chick starter? Those feathers don't appear to be silkied - they lack the fuzziness at the ends that silkied feathers have. As long as it is not getting picked on and is eating and drinking fine, I would just let it be. He/she could just be a late bloomer.

 

[Tomhusker]

She is getting the same starter feed the other 8 chicks in my flock are getting.

 

[theFox]

If there are no bugs then up the chicks protein level.

If there are bugs get rid of them and up the chicks protein level.

Once you eliminate those as possibilities, then you can look at other possibilities.

If the weather is really warm where you are you might just be seeing the effects of the heat on young chicks. It can cause a reduction in feed intake and thus a lower protein level and it can hasten the loss of the chick fuzz. This would tend to cause a slowing of feathering, between the slow down and the loss of fuzz you get plenty of air space.