Feathers this early?

[cjweaver13]

I have eight hybrid chicks that we hatched. Four are Rhode Island red and golden laced Wyandotte crosses, three are Easter Egger and golden laced Wyandotte crosses, and one black austrolorpe and golden laced Wyandotte cross.

I notice especially on the Reds, they already have their wing feathers coming in on day 4/5. I feel like last year when we had our first batch of heritage breed checks, it took over a week to see the first feathers. Is my memory wrong, or are these guys progressing faster than their heritage parents?

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a ton of information about my specific crosses. Obviously the golden laced Wyandotte is the rooster and the rest for my mixed flock hens. i’ll be curious to see what the Easter Egger chicks, how their feathers develop in their egg color. I’ll also be curious to see if they have higher rates of egg laying as the Reds are easily are most productive laying hens so far, so I was hoping the Rhode Island red chicks would have some hybrid vigor

Hard to see in the picture, but I try to get the wings on the Reds

 

[SilverBirds]

Looks normal. A lot of breeds start to get their feathers at only a few days old.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Thats very normal

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you look closely when they hatch you can already see some wing feathers starting. In the wild they are a lot safer if they can fly so they start on those wing feathers really young. I've seen a broody hen get her chicks to fly up to the roost at two weeks. They used 2' to 3' long flights to get up there but they made it.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

That's normal! Some breeds get them earlier than others. Temperature can play a role, too, because they feather more quickly if it's colder. If it's warmer, they don't have a 'need' to feather out.

 

[DavidReaves]

I have eight hybrid chicks that we hatched. Four are Rhode Island red and golden laced Wyandotte crosses, three are Easter Egger and golden laced Wyandotte crosses, and one black austrolorpe and golden laced Wyandotte cross.

I notice especially on the Reds, they already have their wing feathers coming in on day 4/5. I feel like last year when we had our first batch of heritage breed checks, it took over a week to see the first feathers. Is my memory wrong, or are these guys progressing faster than their heritage parents?

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a ton of information about my specific crosses. Obviously the golden laced Wyandotte is the rooster and the rest for my mixed flock hens. i’ll be curious to see what the Easter Egger chicks, how their feathers develop in their egg color. I’ll also be curious to see if they have higher rates of egg laying as the Reds are easily are most productive laying hens so far, so I was hoping the Rhode Island red chicks would have some hybrid vigor

Hard to see in the picture, but I try to get the wings on the Reds

I'm seeing the same thing with Rhode Island Red and Cream Legbar crosses. This chick is 3 days old. I have 15 new chicks and most, even some that are only 2 1/2 days old are quickly developing wing feathers.