How slow is typical for slow feathering??

[kurby22]

So I know that each bird is different and they feather at their own rate...but how slow is too slow or is there such a thing?

I got 4 chicks at the same time that are all within a day of each other age wise. I believe they’re approximately 3.5 weeks old. I got two lavender Orps and two BLRWs. The BLRWs are both feathering, but one has a LOT more feathers...and one of my Orps is even further along. And then there’s Whiny (aka I think he’s a cockerel). He barely has ANY feathers at all! The other three seem close to ready for more outside time but Whiny is still mainly fluff! How do I address this when it’s time to go outside? We are already getting into the 80s during the day, and they’re outgrowing the brooder...and all are ready but Whiny! He’s a super sweet chick but hates being away from the others and still really likes to cuddle and be warm...while the rest have started roosting on their baby chick roost. Just wondering if this is mainly normal and if I can do anything to help him catch up? Or just be patient? First two are of Whiny, and the other two are of his sister Evee.

Thanks!

 

[NatJ]

He will catch up in time. I think they usually manage to get a full set of feathers by 8 weeks or so.

You can put him outdoors with the others, but keep an eye on whether he acts cold or sounds distressed.

Even though he does not have feathers, he is quite a bit bigger than when he first hatched, so cooler temperatures will not trouble him as much as they would trouble a newly hatched chick.

For helping him catch up, there is not much you can do. Just continue with normal chick care: keep chick starter and water available at all times, and make sure the brooder has plenty of cool area, plus one area warm enough that the chicks can warm up whenever they want to.

 

[TheSquishyPack]

So I know that each bird is different and they feather at their own rate...but how slow is too slow or is there such a thing?

I got 4 chicks at the same time that are all within a day of each other age wise. I believe they’re approximately 3.5 weeks old. I got two lavender Orps and two BLRWs. The BLRWs are both feathering, but one has a LOT more feathers...and one of my Orps is even further along. And then there’s Whiny (aka I think he’s a cockerel). He barely has ANY feathers at all! The other three seem close to ready for more outside time but Whiny is still mainly fluff! How do I address this when it’s time to go outside? We are already getting into the 80s during the day, and they’re outgrowing the brooder...and all are ready but Whiny! He’s a super sweet chick but hates being away from the others and still really likes to cuddle and be warm...while the rest have started roosting on their baby chick roost. Just wondering if this is mainly normal and if I can do anything to help him catch up? Or just be patient? First two are of Whiny, and the other two are of his sister Evee.

Thanks!

Just wondering how this worked out for you? I recently got 4 new chicks to add to our flock, one is a lavender orpington and she doesn't seem to be growing feathers or getting as big as the other 3. She's running around, eating, drinking, pooping, and making her happy little cheep noises. Do you think her feathers come in eventually?

 

[kurby22]

Just wondering how this worked out for you? I recently got 4 new chicks to add to our flock, one is a lavender orpington and she doesn't seem to be growing feathers or getting as big as the other 3. She's running around, eating, drinking, pooping, and making her happy little cheep noises. Do you think her feathers come in eventually?

He ended up going from nothing to fully feathered super rapidly! He also finally started putting on more size and weight, but it took till almost 10 weeks before he was feathered enough to look a bit more normal. He also grew up to be a large typical rooster, just took way longer to get there. He didn’t start crowing until he was about 7 months old!

I’ve had mixed luck with the ones that don’t grow as quickly more than the just slow feathering ones. Some live happy and healthy and eventually fill out like the rest and you’d never know they were runty but I’ve had some that stay runty and they are very susceptible to all the things and don’t make it farther than 7+ months. Sounds like yours is the happy and healthy kind, so hopefully it makes it over that growth threshold to normalcy! As long as they are acting like happy normal chickens I try not to worry!

 

[TheSquishyPack]

He ended up going from nothing to fully feathered super rapidly! He also finally started putting on more size and weight, but it took till almost 10 weeks before he was feathered enough to look a bit more normal. He also grew up to be a large typical rooster, just took way longer to get there. He didn’t start crowing until he was about 7 months old!

I’ve had mixed luck with the ones that don’t grow as quickly more than the just slow feathering ones. Some live happy and healthy and eventually fill out like the rest and you’d never know they were runty but I’ve had some that stay runty and they are very susceptible to all the things and don’t make it farther than 7+ months. Sounds like yours is the happy and healthy kind, so hopefully it makes it over that growth threshold to normalcy! As long as they are acting like happy normal chickens I try not to worry!

He ended up going from nothing to fully feathered super rapidly! He also finally started putting on more size and weight, but it took till almost 10 weeks before he was feathered enough to look a bit more normal. He also grew up to be a large typical rooster, just took way longer to get there. He didn’t start crowing until he was about 7 months old!

I’ve had mixed luck with the ones that don’t grow as quickly more than the just slow feathering ones. Some live happy and healthy and eventually fill out like the rest and you’d never know they were runty but I’ve had some that stay runty and they are very susceptible to all the things and don’t make it farther than 7+ months. Sounds like yours is the happy and healthy kind, so hopefully it makes it over that growth threshold to normalcy! As long as they are acting like happy normal chickens I try not to worry!

Thank you. I just can't get over it. All 4 of the chicks I got were delivered to farm and fleet on the same day so they have to be with days of each other. Her wings are so small compared to the others and they're getting so many feathers. But she is quick! They chase each other with pieces of shavings and she out runs the other ones lol.

 

[NatJ]

I just can't get over it. All 4 of the chicks I got were delivered to farm and fleet on the same day so they have to be with days of each other. Her wings are so small compared to the others and they're getting so many feathers.

There is a very good reason "slow feathering" is the name for the gene that usually causes this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_feathering_in_chickens
This wikipedia article has comparison photos at the top, showing chicks that are 10 days old, one with fast feathering and one with slow.
(At least, that's the image at the present time. I know that articles sometimes get different images.)