Is there something wrong with my BCM pullets feathers?

[Brb0891]

Are they from a specific hatchery? Or are these ones you have hatched out?

I had one BCM that I had issues with two years ago from Cackle Hatchery with a similar first year feather issue. Her first actual fall molt the feathers fixed themselves but she was our "ugly duckling" for the longest time. She is the healthiest/best bird of my older flock.

Good checking for mites as I was in the same boat w/ mine years ago panicked when it was just some really bad luck.

I got the BCM's from meyer hatchery. Hopefully she gets better feathers. I think she gets cold faster than the others. She's a north dakota resident now so she needs to handle cold lol.

 

[Pumperkinz]

As long as she's got a draft free space to roost when she gets cold she should be fine. My new babies I got last year I had free ranging as soon as they feathered out to get them accustomed to the cold.

Keep an eye and let us know how she's doing. Have you given her any nutridrench or anything yet?

 

[Brb0891]

As long as she's got a draft free space to roost when she gets cold she should be fine. My new babies I got last year I had free ranging as soon as they feathered out to get them accustomed to the cold.

Keep an eye and let us know how she's doing. Have you given her any nutridrench or anything yet?

As long as she's got a draft free space to roost when she gets cold she should be fine. My new babies I got last year I had free ranging as soon as they feathered out to get them accustomed to the cold.

Keep an eye and let us know how she's doing. Have you given her any nutridrench or anything yet?

No not yet. It's a 65 mile drive to TSC. I'll pick up something tomorrow. She's healthy besides the rough feathers. I built them a new coop last fall that's well insulated and has radiant barrier on all walls and ceiling to try to keep the heat they give off reflected back at them. I've got a electric radiant heater in there to keep it above freezing for now.

 

[Brb0891]

She turned 18 weeks old yesterday. She looks better but still has a few rough feathers. I gave her some supplements and switched to 20% all flock feed. I've been sprouting black oil sunflower seeds and giving them a little bit a few times a week. I noticed she can't see well out of one eye. That might be been part of it but she's bigger than the other bcm pullet I got with her.

 

[Brb0891]

The sprouted BOSS really makes the other black pullets feathers shine though. This is my olive egger or a green queen. I'm not sure which one it is.

 

[Pumperkinz]

She turned 18 weeks old yesterday. She looks better but still has a few rough feathers. I gave her some supplements and switched to 20% all flock feed. I've been sprouting black oil sunflower seeds and giving them a little bit a few times a week. I noticed she can't see well out of one eye. That might be been part of it but she's bigger than the other bcm pullet I got with her. View attachment 4044357View attachment 4044358

Will be interesting to see her first molt and see if it's truly just her bad first feathering, and it will fix itself. Or if it's more of a genetic issue like the shredder gene in lav orpingtons etc. I have a feeling you'll be surprised come her first molt she will straighten out (hopefully). Is she laying yet, and if she is do you have pictures of her egg color?

 

[Brb0891]

Will be interesting to see her first molt and see if it's truly just her bad first feathering, and it will fix itself. Or if it's more of a genetic issue like the shredder gene in lav orpingtons etc. I have a feeling you'll be surprised come her first molt she will straighten out (hopefully). Is she laying yet, and if she is do you have pictures of her egg color?

She isn't laying yet. I don't think any of them will lay before 20 weeks. They're growing combs but not squatting yet.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I've been following along as well for curiosity, her full copper hackles is gorgeous.

 

[wrathsfarm]

She isn't laying yet. I don't think any of them will lay before 20 weeks. They're growing combs but not squatting yet.

19-20 weeks is pretty common for my Black Coppers but I think a lot is dependant on when they hatch and how old they are when daylight hours shorten. I have a Black Silver Marans pullet that hatched in June and just started laying last week at 33 weeks old.
She made me wait....

 

[Brb0891]

19-20 weeks is pretty common for my Black Coppers but I think a lot is dependant on when they hatch and how old they are when daylight hours shorten. I have a Black Silver Marans pullet that hatched in June and just started laying last week at 33 weeks old.
She made me wait....

I got five easter eggers that were 18 weeks old last August. Three started in October and I'm still waiting to see a egg from the other two. They'll probably be a year old next month or close