Late feather on chicks

[DebD]

I had the SAME EXACT thing happen, but mine have even less feathers than yours. I ordered BA or BO eggs from Meyer's hatchery this summer. The BOs feathered as expected, but the BAs have been painstakingly slow and look just like yours. At first I thought they were males and that was the reason for the slow feathering, but they are now 2 months old and their combs/waddles don't suggest males at all.

I called Meyer's hatchery and they said they hadn't had any other complaints. Where did you get your eggs from @DebD & @Chickstarrs? If it was also Meyers, that would start to make more sense.

I have started giving them cooked eggs every other day this past week to try to increase their protein (they are fed organic grower). One is FINALLY getting some feathers in. The other looks half-naked still.

EDIT:Also, I ordered 15 BA pullets & 1 BA cockerel chicks Cackle earlier this summer and they all feathered out normally.

I got my eggs from Meyers. I called them and talked to someone who said, "We try to get as true to standards as possible." Hmmmm... Could be that whoever they get their eggs from, if they aren't laying on site, could have gotten some crossbreeding in there?

 

[DebD]

cyfarian - Here are some pure-bred 4.5-month old BAs from a reputable breeder. I just know the ones I got from Meyers would never have turned out like these.

 

[NatJ]

Slow feathering does happen in chickens.

It can show up in either gender. Because it is on the Z sex chromosome, it is sometimes used to breed feather-sexable chicks.

Once a chicken finishes growing up, you cannot tell whether it was slow-feathering or fast-feathering. Any breed could have slow-feathering and fast-feathering individuals, although some breeds do tend to have more one way or the other.

 

[Chickstarrs]

cyfarian - Here are some pure-bred 4.5-month old BAs from a reputable breeder. I just know the ones I got from Meyers would never have turned out like these.

I checked the calendar again and mine are closer to 14 wks. They seem to be on their way to look like these ones.