Is it too early to call this a frizzle

[Gttteacher]

This chick is part of my classroom project--unfortunately the only surviving hatchling of six full term eggs. We were trying to get frizzles from my frizzle cochin rooster. The mommy of this chick was either a buff or comet--not sure as both been on same box and two similar eggs were present. It definitely has daddy's feathered legs and toes and appears that at least to me that the wing feathers are standing out. But since it is only 5 days old, it may be too early to tell. let me know what you think.

 

[HalfAChanceFarm]

Frizzle chickens show "frizzling" as in day or two at most, and not all of them will have the frizzling. I don't think this one is showing any frizzled feather, but it is a cross so you can expect the same as purebreds.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

This chick is not a frizzle. You dont have to cross two cochin (one frizzle on not) to get the frizzle effect. You can cross a frizzle cochin with a golden comet and possibly get a frizzle. But then instead of a pure cochin frizzle, you just have a frizzle month.

Anyways when you breed your frizzled cochin to various smooth feathered breed. You only have a 50% chance of getting a frizzle chick.You ended of with a smooth feathered chick

 

[LTygress]

Wow. I don't mean to be insulting, but I'm wondering where everyone is getting their information...

Okay, so you bred a frizzle roo with "some type of" hen. Yes, you have a 50% chance to get frizzle on this guy. And having raised about 60+ actual FRIZZLES from eggs (so, yes, about that many smooth feathered chicks from it, too), I can say that it does indeed take about 5 days to show whether or not they are frizzles. Some are more obvious, but I'm usually certain by about five days old. One to two days is too early because the feathers don't have enough length to start curling either in OR out properly.

So, all of that being said, I'm going to say it LOOKS like there is a chance it could be. I see the shorter wing feathers are definitely wanting to point outwards. The longer feathers only point out at the very end, but that's common too. Here's a photo that shows a good example of that. Notice how the wing feathers seem pretty straight... until you get to the tips!


I don't know why it does that with wing feathers. It just does. So the longer feathers on your chick appearing straight EXCEPT for the tips is normal. That will change as they get older though, and the straighter part of the feathers are covered up by shorter, curly feathers, until the entire chicken is covered head to toe with curly feathers. The chick in my photo was about 6 weeks old when the photo was taken.

So it's not too early, and it's not too late either. Right now is when you will BEGIN to see the differences in a chick that is growing frizzle feathering. And the more you deal with frizzle chicks, the more you'll become comfortable in knowing which way the chick's feathers will grow, when they are about five days old.

The only problem I am having with your photos, is that the angle doesn't quite show if the feather is actually pulling away from the body. It looks like it is to me, though. But a better photo might be a top-view or a straight-on front view (of the chick's body, not her face). The second photo showing her wing doesn't help much at all, because I definitely can't tell which way those feathers are bending - if they are curling at all. Here's another few photos of baby frizzle chicks to help you see what I see when I look for outward-curled feathers. Although these photos still aren't exactly "straight-on", you can see the feathers stick out from the side more than a normal chick:

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

In my experience after a few days, usually 3, (5 being cut off), if it hasn't started to show they are smooth feathered. I was not one that said it showed at hatch. I have not raised 60+, but have raised some.
This is a frizzle chick at 5 days.

 

[Gttteacher]

Thanks to one and all for their input. Here are a couple of new pictures. The chick is now 11 days I believe. Curling seems to be evident now--at least on the wings. I hope it turns out on the entire body.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Well now it is obvious that it is a frizzle. At day 5 it didn't look like a frizzle at all. All of mine have showed evidence by day 5. Mine got it all over. His neck, wings, back, his leg feathers even curled. Everything but his tail and saddle feathers and beard.

 

[CCCCCCCCHICKENS]

Well now it is obvious that it is a frizzle. At day 5 it didn't look like a frizzle at all. All of mine have showed evidence by day 5. Mine got it all over. His neck, wings, back, his leg feathers even curled. Everything but his tail and saddle feathers and beard.

mine did take a long time to get his curled feathers all over. Forever only his wings curled