My chicks have bare stomachs/chests?

[glittergurrl]

I'm a first owner of eight baby chicks. 6 red pullets and two Barred Rock straight runs. They are about three/four weeks old and from what I can see most of them are bare right on what seems like a chest bone. They have most of their feathers everywhere else, I don't know if this is normal or I'm worrying about nothing but as a first time owner, I'd really like to be reassured.

 

[nwe319]

any pictures?

 

[glittergurrl]

Sadly, I do not have a working camera right now but none of them seem lethargic or anything. They're all as chipper as ever. The only thing seems to be the feathers. They're not completely bare but on some it seems pretty close.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

This is what I call the "awkward teenage phase". They get all gangly looking, their voices change and they have new feathers sprouting everywhere (and old feathers falling out...EVERYWHERE!). Sometimes, the cute baby feathers shed before the big ones have sprouted. I say, unless you nice evidence of picking or bugs, what you are describing sounds pretty normal. Good luck!

 

[glittergurrl]

No bugs and I haven't seen any picking (and I'll be the first to admit that I perhaps spend a bit too much time watching my newest babies). This makes me feel very, very relieved. I thought that might be the case but you can never be too sure! Thank you very much!

 

[Bokros]

Thanks for this posting. I have 3 week old chickens and the same thing is happening to all of them! I wasn't sure if I should be worried or not. They dont seem to be sick or in any pain, just missing feathers. The skin is completely bare on some of their bellys. Did yours look like my picture?