New chicks missing lots of feathers

[Jitterbuggin]

I picked up two new chicks today, and I’m a little alarmed... they’re half the size that I was expecting, extremely lethargic, and are missing large amounts of feathers. I’m new to chicken keeping and I’m not entirely sure what to do to help these guys out. What should I be looking for? Treating for? I have them in quarantine in my house right now. Gave them electrolytes/vitamins in their water. Just don’t really know where to begin...

 

[Chicken poppy]

Hm, for one make sure they werent in contact with mold, that can cause lethargic. the feathers im not to worried about, it could be bad or nothing at all, usually feathers grow in later on with chicks. But keep a eye on it for sure! It being small isnt also that bad, it probably just means underdeveloped or something, but whats the age? That really depends! If their new or something, wait for their feathers to fully fluff up.

 

[Tonyroo]

I picked up two new chicks today, and I’m a little alarmed... they’re half the size that I was expecting, extremely lethargic, and are missing large amounts of feathers. I’m new to chicken keeping and I’m not entirely sure what to do to help these guys out. What should I be looking for? Treating for? I have them in quarantine in my house right now. Gave them electrolytes/vitamins in their water. Just don’t really know where to begin...


View attachment 2661032

Did you buy the chick?
Looks about 3 weeks old, cemani or svart hona.
Make a small amount of feed mash for the chick, it's easier to digest. Feed mixed with water then stir to the make it look like oatmeal consistency.
You'll need to monitor it's condition give it some warmth.

 

[Jitterbuggin]

Alright thank you for making me feel a little better! These guys should be about 7 weeks old... which is just impossible to believe since my 6 week olds are probably twice their size these should be standard size chickens. I’ve only bought tiny baby chicks before as well, and not awkward teenagers...
Maybe I’m just being thrown by the black skin/feathers/etc... and maybe they had a rough day. I haven’t seen them drink any water at all.

 

[Jitterbuggin]

Did you buy the chick?
Looks about 3 weeks old, cemani or svart hona.
Make a small amount of feed mash for the chick, it's easier to digest. Feed mixed with water then stir to the make it look like oatmeal consistency.
You'll need to monitor it's condition give it some warmth.

Yes, I bought them! This one should be a pet quality ayam cemani, but I was told it should be 7 weeks! They had been off heat for a while. Maybe that has caused some issues? My 6 week- 8 week olds are off heat and outside (mild weather here). I have them inside right now because I’m quarantining them and couldn’t fathom the idea of these little ones in the garage. I’ll get the heat lamp up and going and see if that makes them feel better.

 

[.:Rusalka:.]

In my groups of chicks I always have some slow feathering ones, right now my chicks are 3 weeks old, most are fully feathered on the body, only not on the head and neck, but I have two who didn't even develop the wings completely yet, looking like the others at one week, and also smaller than the others. In the end they will catch up, everyone develops a little different.

 

[Tonyroo]

Yes, I bought them! This one should be a pet quality ayam cemani, but I was told it should be 7 weeks! They had been off heat for a while. Maybe that has caused some issues? My 6 week- 8 week olds are off heat and outside (mild weather here). I have them inside right now because I’m quarantining them and couldn’t fathom the idea of these little ones in the garage. I’ll get the heat lamp up and going and see if that makes them feel better.

If they were really 7 weeks old they would be 90% fully feathered. The people you bought them from seem misinformed or they were too busy to keep track of the well being of the chicks.

 

[Jitterbuggin]

Update on them - they seem thrilled to be in the baby brooder and have perked up a lot. The smaller one (pic above was the larger one) is “dust” bathing like crazy. I keep looking at my chicks and then these ones and being totally thrown by the age they’re supposed to be. They don’t look even remotely close in age.

I was also told they were probably both pullets... but the big one has a comb bigger than my much larger chicks outside Hopefully won’t have too much trouble rehoming him once he’s bigger. Or maybe he’ll surprise me and be a she.

 

[Chicken poppy]

I hope they get better! They seem better all ready, maybe it was just stress

 

[Tonyroo]

Update on them - they seem thrilled to be in the baby brooder and have perked up a lot. The smaller one (pic above was the larger one) is “dust” bathing like crazy. I keep looking at my chicks and then these ones and being totally thrown by the age they’re supposed to be. They don’t look even remotely close in age.

I was also told they were probably both pullets... but the big one has a comb bigger than my much larger chicks outside Hopefully won’t have too much trouble rehoming him once he’s bigger. Or maybe he’ll surprise me and be a she. View attachment 2661500

It looks like you have a pair, but it’s to early to really know. I'm glad there feeling better.