No feathers!

[GetClucking]

Hi
Our chicks are 10.5 weeks old and some of them are fully feathered and some have no feathers on their backs at all, it's mainly the Australorps and the Welsummers that have no feathers. We got some advice from the vet and she said to up the protein and vitamins but still no huge improvement, will they start to come in eventually? Sorry for yet more questions, newbie chick mum

Thanks in advance
Fiona

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Could they be roosters, they feather out slower, otherwise some breeds are slower, never had a chick not grow feathers, they should come eventually, but some can take a while.

 

[GetClucking]

Hmmm I hope not we have discovered out of our 70 odd chicks we have 7 roosters and still counting! I'll keep an eye on them I was just a bit concerned that maybe I'm missing something
-Fiona

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's how I tell roosters from hens very early, the girls will feather quicker, the roosters are bald for a while longer, by the time they are feathering their little combs are reddening

 

[GetClucking]

Ah ok that's a good bit of help actually. I'll have to have a closer look at them, I may have some more rooster than I thought.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Roosters combs will redden, the pullets will be orange, up to the point they get close to laying then the combs will redden and enlarge, both are signs of sexual maturity, the roos get there first. So look for red and orange.