Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

From my experience, until they're around 5 or 6 months old, they are constantly shedding and regrowing feathers as their bodies are growing. They will not have their first real molt until their second fall/winter.

ETA: I should add that it's technically the first molt and they will be growing in feathers in their adult colorations, but it's not the same as the fall/winter molts, which are when they stop laying for the duration of the molt (and sometimes for the winter) and their comb and wattles shrink for that time. That is when extra protein will really be helpful to them.

 

[CoopDeDoo]

I just spoke with the PO and the chicks should be in around 2pm today

I can't believe how fast they got all the way across the country! Update to come

 

[CoopDeDoo]

I just spoke with the PO and the chicks should be in around 2pm today

I can't believe how fast they got all the way across the country! Update to come

 

[NotableNancy]

I just spoke with the PO and the chicks should be in around 2pm today

I can't believe how fast they got all the way across the country! Update to come

That's awesome!!! Mine took 2 days to arrive and I'm only 7 hours away from them!! But that's our PO not Meyer issues.

From my experience, until they're around 5 or 6 months old, they are constantly shedding and regrowing feathers as their bodies are growing. They will not have their first real molt until their second fall/winter.

ETA: I should add that it's technically the first molt and they will be growing in feathers in their adult colorations, but it's not the same as the fall/winter molts, which are when they stop laying for the duration of the molt (and sometimes for the winter) and their comb and wattles shrink for that time. That is when extra protein will really be helpful to them.

Thanks! Just wanted to make sure they are not lacking in anything nutritionally and that this was normal!!
I'm such a 'new mom'

 

[NanaLynn]

I can't wait!!!!! Do you have any idea who laid the little one in the garden? You need a camera to catch them in the act

I think it was one of the RIR's, I do wish I had a camera there too. So far today, I have the white egg from Snow and I went out to check around 12:30 and there was another brown egg in the nest box. I think it was Google the huge BR. I think Googles and Dominique's eggs are very similar. I believe that I have 9 layers now with so many eggs throughout the past few days. So that's the white leghorn, one of the EE's, the CW, SLW, 2 of the BR's, both RIR's and the Dominque. The others do not have red in the combs and wattles yet, they are the other EE, little BR, BC and the BO. The only one of those 4 that squat is the BO.

Of course, I also checked a couple times between 7am and 12:30 for eggs and there were none, even though they sure were making a racket.

I need to remember my garden too when I am out in the morning, I had a 2 lb squash and a 3 lb zucchini growing, needless to say I picked those. I've been searching for eggs so much, I forgot to pick the veggies.

Since I am so new to raising chickens, my first ever, I'm wondering if they are molting or is it normal to find tons of feathers every day? There's no bare spots, no feather picking or anything like that going on. Just lots of feathers around in the run. They don't free range so I didn't know if I just see all the feathers because they are in a run where as if they were free ranging they would be all over the yard or blowing away.
They are 15 1/2 weeks old (hatched March 10th) and has been going on for several weeks. Is this considered a first molt or just losing feathers? If molting should I be feeding them something to help them regrow feathers? More protein?

Mine also have been losing feathers, I remember reading too that as long as they look okay and not bare that you shouldn't worry about it.

 

[NanaLynn]

I just spoke with the PO and the chicks should be in around 2pm today

I can't believe how fast they got all the way across the country! Update to come

Great!!!!

 

[MsChickenMomma]

Nancy- I was worried about my chicks that we hatched last year, because they were constantly dropping feather from about 5 weeks to 4 months. My girls this year are doing the same thing, and like Pip said, it is completely normal. I wish I had known that last year! Then I wouldn't have spent so much time worrying about them.

 

[MsChickenMomma]

I just spoke with the PO and the chicks should be in around 2pm today

I can't believe how fast they got all the way across the country! Update to come

Congratz! I bet you are so excited!

 

[CoopDeDoo]

They're here!

The only one we know for sure is SLW - best guesses on the others:

One RIR

One BO (or maybe WR)

Three GSL


Open to all your best guesses as well. I am definitely happy with the customer service (email replys are almost immediate and chat window works well too). I'll keep everyone posted on growth and breed updates

 

[NotableNancy]

They're here!

The only one we know for sure is SLW - best guesses on the others:

One RIR

One BO (or maybe WR)

Three GSL


Open to all your best guesses as well. I am definitely happy with the customer service (email replys are almost immediate and chat window works well too). I'll keep everyone posted on growth and breed updates

They all made it!! Awesome. One looks like an RIR but I don't know about the others.

I think it was one of the RIR's, I do wish I had a camera there too. So far today, I have the white egg from Snow and I went out to check around 12:30 and there was another brown egg in the nest box. I think it was Google the huge BR. I think Googles and Dominique's eggs are very similar. I believe that I have 9 layers now with so many eggs throughout the past few days. So that's the white leghorn, one of the EE's, the CW, SLW, 2 of the BR's, both RIR's and the Dominque. The others do not have red in the combs and wattles yet, they are the other EE, little BR, BC and the BO. The only one of those 4 that squat is the BO.

Of course, I also checked a couple times between 7am and 12:30 for eggs and there were none, even though they sure were making a racket.

I need to remember my garden too when I am out in the morning, I had a 2 lb squash and a 3 lb zucchini growing, needless to say I picked those. I've been searching for eggs so much, I forgot to pick the veggies.

Mine also have been losing feathers, I remember reading too that as long as they look okay and not bare that you shouldn't worry about it.

You'll be giving away eggs in no time so many are laying! I'm so jealous about your garden. We can't grow anything because of all our deer. We have tried for many years to foil their attempts to eat all our veggies but they always get to them. Even pushing right through fences, jumping over and eating through the netting we had over the tomatoes! The only thing I can grow are herbs and something is eating my basil this year

So frustrating.
Thanks for the info about feather loss too... always good to know it's not just mine!

Nancy- I was worried about my chicks that we hatched last year, because they were constantly dropping feather from about 5 weeks to 4 months. My girls this year are doing the same thing, and like Pip said, it is completely normal. I wish I had known that last year!

Then I wouldn't have spent so much time worrying about them.

Thanks! I don't recall reading about other chicks at this age losing feathers so I thought I could check with all of you.