n00b question - why are my chicks SO scruffy?!

[garbagePaw]

Is it normal for my growing chicks to look like they got sucked into a vacuum cleaner and blown out again?! LOL. My 5 black australorps are now approx 1 month old... maybe not quite (got them as brand new little fluffies the week before easter). They're growing really well and I think real feathers are coming in, but gosh they all look like scruffy little raggamuffins... like they don't preen at all or something... is this a normal transition thing? Or are they sick? Behavior is normal, they're eating well and scratching around and peeping a lot. We change their bedding and give fresh food and water and sunlight every day. They are still in a large tote... coop is almost done

 

[Lots A Cluckin]

post pics of them...that would be more helpful...we could better tell you what is going on......they could be frizzled...but I doubt that all 5 are frizzled.

 

[CorinneP]

Some Breeds go through a not so Cute stage before they are Beautiful again.. I jokingly say its like when little kids lose their front teeth and then end up with those big Rabit teeth for a while. I have about a dozen Jersey Giants at that stage, and when Company and kids come to look at my critters they get to them and usually say something like .. I dont like those they are Ugly ! .. And I have to defend them lol Hey now They are going to be Big and Beautiful !

 

[Lots A Cluckin]

maybe I am weird or something but my chicks have never gotten ugly ....they are 6 weeks old and have always been and still are cute...they never got ugly

 

[TrystInn]

Some breeds have a very awkward adolescence, just grin and take a lot of pictures because once they get through it and are gorgeous you'll forget how bizarre they looked during it!

 

[garbagePaw]

OK. I will try and get some pics. Their feathers just look super ruffled, scraggly...Yup it's pretty ugly haha. Anyone know if this is an australorp thing maybe?

 

[suzeqf]

I've got several polish and silkies at that stage right now too and they do look a bit goofy but i like the goofy stage because they are acting so silly and sometimes it seems like one day they are little space aliens and the next they are pretty young hens

 

[harriedhomemaker]

My chickens are six weeks old. I have 11 different breeds and can testify that some of them looked stranger than others as their feathers were coming in. My roo was the worst of all - he looked like he had mange or something. They all look pretty decent now.