Scraggly feathers

[Barredbuzzard34]

My chickens are all probably about 6 weeks old, and most of them have nice, soft and sleek feathers. A few of them have feathers that look unkempt, like they haven't been groomed. Is there anything I can do to help their feathers become more healthy? Attached there is one pic of a bird with the weird feathers, and one pic of a bird with healthy feathers.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some chicks are fast-feathering and some are slow-feathering. That's controlled by genetics. The different rates the feathers grow can affect how they look.

Growing chicks go through juvenile molts. They outgrow their feathers and have to replace hem, Totally normal. Some chickens are fast molters, some are slow molters. That's not about how fast they grow back but how fast the feathers fall out. That's also controlled by genetics.

How these two combine can give you rough looking feathers at different stages of growth. There is nothing unhealthy about that. See what they look like in another week or two.

At the same time, check them for mites or lice. Those parasites can cause them to look rough. There may actually be a concern.

What are you feeding them? If it is a regular chick feed, at that age Starter or Grower is fine, they will develop normally. Some people like to supplement their feed with BOSS. The oil in Black OIL Sunflower Seeds helps keep the feathers looking nice. I don't but some do. It doesn't take much, don't overdo it, but that oil does help make the feathers look sleek and shiny.

 

[Barredbuzzard34]

Some chicks are fast-feathering and some are slow-feathering. That's controlled by genetics. The different rates the feathers grow can affect how they look.

Growing chicks go through juvenile molts. They outgrow their feathers and have to replace hem, Totally normal. Some chickens are fast molters, some are slow molters. That's not about how fast they grow back but how fast the feathers fall out. That's also controlled by genetics.

How these two combine can give you rough looking feathers at different stages of growth. There is nothing unhealthy about that. See what they look like in another week or two.

At the same time, check them for mites or lice. Those parasites can cause them to look rough. There may actually be a concern.

What are you feeding them? If it is a regular chick feed, at that age Starter or Grower is fine, they will develop normally. Some people like to supplement their feed with BOSS. The oil in Black OIL Sunflower Seeds helps keep the feathers looking nice. I don't but some do. It doesn't take much, don't overdo it, but that oil does help make the feathers look sleek and shiny.

I have been feeding them the start and grow medicated chick feed from Purina. If some had lice or mites, would they all? It's good to hear that they're probably just fine...

 

[Ridgerunner]

If some had lice or mites, would they all?

Some may be more infected than others but they would all need to be treated.

 

[chickens really]

Wait till after the juvenile molt and they all begin to Roost at night.