Mystery Meaty

[americanchicks]

Hi All. So got a bunch of Cornish X and Red Rangers from Tractor Supply. (They where half of hee hee) This little dude was sold to me as a RR but he looks so strange. Has no feather growth at all on his thighs, back and belly just fuzz, is about 5 weeks. At first I was thinking maybe he was a RR Cornish mix but even the Cornish have more feathers. Any ideas?

You can see him with

other RR

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Some just feather out slower. To me he looks like one of your meat bird mixes that outgrew his feathers. I've not raised meat birds before but I believe they need a higher protein starter, but I'm not positive.

 

[Amer]

Retarded growth gene?

 

[americanchicks]

Strange right. I have been feeding them meatbird crumble so protein is not the problem. He is just as large and healthy as the others just lacking feathers. It will be interesting to watch him grow.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Strange right. I have been feeding them meatbird crumble so protein is not the problem. He is just as large and healthy as the others just lacking feathers. It will be interesting to watch him grow.

I've had some rooster chicks that were nearly naked until about 3 months. Some just feather slower than others. I see it more in cochins and Orpingtons.

I now feed a daily treat of scrambled eggs to my growing chicks and they feather out much more quickly.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

I think it's just slow developing. Sometimes birds do that. They will eventually feather out.

 

[Kris5902]

He also has much thicker legs than the others, unless that’s just a perspective thing in the photo, from what I see... interesting. I’ve never done RR or meaties, but mine will be arriving on the 7th, is this level of variation normal?

 

[Animals45]

Some chicks can grow there feathers early and some grow them late. Idk if you already know the breed but looks like he is a Speckled Sussex.