Runt not feathering

[Aelani]

I have 16 chicks. Five of them are black giant. I got them at same time. My daughter picked him out because he was a lighter grey color and looked different than the black ones. They are around 5 weeks old. All are feathering out nicely except for him. He is losing his down but nothing is growing in its place, so he seems balding down his back. His tail is sparse and top part of wings are as well. His neck is getting some feathers and wings lay flat. He doesn't get picked on at all...they treat him as part of the group. He plays with everyone and is active. He snuggles with them at night. He even tolerates being held and petted and will fall asleep in my hand.

I've tried doing some research to figure it out but am still guessing. I'm hoping someone here can help identify what's going on with him. Is he just a runt and will be one big ol black giant one day? Or does he seem genetic in his runt baldness? I've read double frizzle can be puny but his only feathers on wings lay flat.

I have an album on my profile dedicated just to him. Bald black chick. I hope the link works that shows him. I can't figure out how to directly post pics to thread from my phone. Thanks for any help and thoughts about him.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/g/a/6425012/bald-black-chick/

 

[Lchix27]

I have have a similar problem with one of my tetra tints that is about 6 weeks old. She is really mangy looking with bald spots. All of my other chicks have quite long tail feathers and all other feathers have come in, but she has barely any tail feathers and bald red patches all over. I don't think she has mites, she is just growing and feathering a lot slower than the others! She still eats and drinks as much as the others too. I think they might just be a little slow!

 

[Aelani]

I keep telling DH, "watch, he'll be the biggest rooster and the one we keep". He sure is sorry looking right now tho lol. His growing is on pause lol. Of course my daughter picks out the short goofy chick lol. It will be interesting to take a pic every week and see if he just keeps balding or feathers start growing better. Special enough to have his own album =) and extra petting time.

 

[Sparkyfam]

Definately keep us posted. If he were a dog, I'd say he's got mange... Not sure if there's a chicken equivalent...

 

[Sparkyfam]

Definately keep us posted. If he were a dog, I'd say he's got mange... Not sure if there's a chicken equivalent...

 

[fiberart57]

Sometimes the cockerels are slower to feather out than the girls. I had an EE male that took until he was about 12 weeks old to fully get his adult feathers.
Mary

 

[Jonathan w]

I have heard that also, that males take longer to feather out, so he will probably be just fine.

 

[Aelani]

Thanks for the replies. It reassures that thought in my head thinking he's just going to be a really big boy one day. There is another black giant male who is doing the normal slow feathering. So I have him to compare the runt to. I've thoroughly examined the little guy and his skin looks healthy so I'm not terribly worried. He's just so tiny and it had me wondering if something else was going on. Hopefully he's the keeper and we get to name him in a couple months. =) He's already got a special place in our hearts.

 

[cabot]

Here is a pic of a Wyandotte I had that did this..... It took FOREVER to feather in

 

[cabot]

Stayed very far behind the others.....