Slow feather growth on 3 week old chick

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

This is Autumn. He is a BYM from my Blue Rock hen incubator hatched 3 weeks ago today (7/20). In the last couple days he just grew in some wing feathers. But for the most part, he’s still all down. All the other chicks in his clutch (including 3 from the same hen) have their wings & tails completely feathered and are in various stages of feather development along their chests, legs, and backs. I’ve never seen a still downy chick this old. Are some chicks just slower at growing in feathers? He was one of the earlier hatches (3rd or 4th) out of 14.

Edited to add: Autumn has no symptoms of illness. Seems perfectly healthy. Just still very downy.

In the next pic Autumn looks small next to Jonquil (same age no relation). But it may be the camera angle. In actuality he looks similar in size to the rest of the clutch.

Full sibling Winter:

My broody hens’ chicks are a week younger and have more feathers than Autumn does!
2 week old broody hatched chick, Texas (no relation):

 

[MysteryChicken]

Looks healthy, & correct size for that age. Just needs more time to feather out.

What's their diet?

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Looks healthy, & correct size for that age. Just needs more time to feather out.

I realize I didn’t put it to the original post, but Autumn does seem healthy. He has no signs or symptoms of illness. I’m just surprised he hasn’t developed more feathers by this age.

What's their diet?

They’re in the process of converting from Purina’s unmedicated chick starter to Purina Flock Raiser.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I realize I didn’t put it to the original post, but Autumn does seem healthy. He has no signs or symptoms of illness. I’m just surprised he hasn’t developed more feathers by this age.


They’re in the process of converting from Purina’s unmedicated chick starter to Purina Flock Raiser.

What do you mean by converting?

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

What do you mean by converting?

They’ve been on Starter but are getting half/half Starter and flock raiser. I suppose “transitioning” would have been a better verb.

 

[MysteryChicken]

They’ve been on Starter but are getting half/half Starter and flock raiser. I suppose “transitioning” would have been a better verb.

Switching them right on the new feed won't hurt them. Transitioning isn't really necessary. Flock Raiser is pretty much the same as chick starter.
But I can understand if you're trying to use up the left other chick feed though.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

Switching them right on the new feed won't hurt them. Transitioning isn't really necessary. Flock Raiser is pretty much the same as chick starter.
But I can understand if you're trying to use up the left other chick feed though.

I’m basically just using it up, lol. The chicks are currently living outside much of the day but sleeping indoors (the outdoor enclosure they’re in isn’t predator safe enough for nighttime stalkers). I still have chick starter in the house, so they’re eating that in their brooder until it’s gone but getting the flock raiser while in the outdoor pen.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I’m basically just using it up, lol. The chicks are currently living outside much of the day but sleeping indoors (the outdoor enclosure they’re in isn’t predator safe enough for nighttime stalkers). I still have chick starter in the house, so they’re eating that in their brooder until it’s gone but getting the flock raiser while in the outdoor pen.

That makes sense.

 

[Chickycammy]

I find that all my male chicks are like this. They're always slower to feather out and get their tails very late. It's how I normally guess their gender for most of my chicks. I've not been wrong so far.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I find that all my male chicks are like this. They're always slower to feather out and get their tails very late. It's how I normally guess their gender for most of my chicks. I've not been wrong so far.

I've noticed that too about some of my male chicks. I just haven't had one feather in as slow as this. I'm glad these are warm weather chicks and now a winter clutch.

I am about 90% sure Autumn is a cockerel.