My father gave my children four chicks for Easter (he knew that I already had a brooder set up waiting for a chick order). He told me they were two Red Stars and two Black Stars. The red chicks are definitely Red Stars, but I think the black chicks are really Jersey Giants. They are HUGE--not as big as Cornish X at this age, but still an inch and a half taller than the Red Stars at the same age. Their feet are also yellow on the bottom, which I think clinches it for Jersey Giants. It's not a big deal; we have a lot of chickens and two more random birds won't hurt anything.
They're six weeks old, and a lot bigger than the other chicks in the brooder, and it's time they got used to the great outdoors. Here is the problem, however: they are missing half their feathers! The Red Stars that are the same age are fully feathered and have already gone out. These babies have huge bald patches on their bellies and backs, just like Cornish X. I'm going to leave them in the brooder for now since our mornings are still cold and they're clearly not fully feathered yet, but has anyone seen this? Is this just something Jersey Giants do?
Thanks,
Erika
They're six weeks old, and a lot bigger than the other chicks in the brooder, and it's time they got used to the great outdoors. Here is the problem, however: they are missing half their feathers! The Red Stars that are the same age are fully feathered and have already gone out. These babies have huge bald patches on their bellies and backs, just like Cornish X. I'm going to leave them in the brooder for now since our mornings are still cold and they're clearly not fully feathered yet, but has anyone seen this? Is this just something Jersey Giants do?
Thanks,
Erika
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