Slow feathering chick

[cmelancon]

I have 4 chicks that all hatched November 16, making them 6 weeks old now. All of them except the white one have gotten their adult feathers. I bought them as eggs labeled Easter egger. Is this normal for one to be a little later or is she/he a different kind. I don’t really care what it is just wanting to make sure it’s normal. My plan was to start integrating them with the other flock when they all got their feathers. Idk why I just felt like she would look like less of a target if she looked less like a baby when I put them all together lol

 

[Perris]

there is a slow feathering gene; it would appear she's got it!

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Might be a male is why

 

[NatJ]

Might be a male is why

Either gender can have the slow feathering gene. I've personally had some of both.

Yes, the genes for fast & slow feathering can be used to set up matings to produce feather-sexable offspring, but that's not particularly common, and also not very likely to happen without planning. (Fast-feathering father & slow-feathering mother will produce slow sons & fast daughters.)

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree it is probably genetic and I would not worry about it from a health standpoint. At 6 weeks I'd try the integration. As always pay attention, anything can happen with that chick or any others.

Those other chicks do not have their adult feathers. You'll see a couple of juvenile molts before they get their adults feathers so don't be surprised if you see a lot of feathers floating around in the future. The chicks outgrow their feathers and need to replace them. An adult would look pretty silly walking around with those tiny chick feathers and they would not offer that much protection. Couldn't fly either with those tiny wing feathers.