Possible bantam sumatra gene defects?

[LadyShred]

I have 2 bantam sumatra chicks and they are adorable. Eating, drinking, playing, romping, pooping, peeping normally. Thing is . . . one of them is going bald on his back and behind, but he still has his tail. They are about 3 weeks old and we have several other breeds of chicks housed with them, about 25 in all. None of the others are experiencing this baldness. He is acting perfectly healthy, no signs of illness. Though no sign of feathers growing back at all. He looks like he's been waxed, really. I was just wondering if this could be a possible gene defect in the bantam sumatra breed.

 

[hinkjc]

Sounds like a slow feathering gene at play. I don't recall the formal word for it, but that's what it looks like. As long as he's healthy, I wouldn't worry. I would not use it for future breeding tho.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

did the chick have feathers there and then begin loosing them?

 

[LadyShred]

Yeah, he had baby fuzz, but now most of that has fallen out and the others are growing feathers in but he is not. Poor dude. He does have a strip down the center of his back that's growing in fine, but his hips are very sad. And I know it's not from the other chicks pecking him because none of them pay his back any attention. I watch them and play with them nonstop. I would have noticed something by now if that was the case. I dunno . . . I'm stumped.