Something wrong with its down

[welasharon]

Well I think he is so ugly he's cute. I agree...someone will take him and love him and put suntan lotion on him and make him a hat!
sharon

 

[mother o' chicks72]

was that when he was still damp from hatching? do you have any pics of him standing next to a normal chick? if not will you take one?

 

[jason_mazzy]

Quote:

comeon shipping cant be that much for a chance at a new feather project. gotta play the lotto to win it!

 

[speckledhen]

That is called clubbed down if I'm not mistaken, a riboflavin deficiency in the yolk of the incubated egg. It's failure of the feathers to rupture their sheaths.

http://www.westvet.com/defective_down.htm

 

[ChickLit]

"I just hatched him today from shipped eggs."

Could there have been an egg mix-up?? The first thing that went through my mind when I saw him was "turkey." Not saying that's what he is or could be, because I don't know...but that was my initial impression.

I'd just keep him extra warm and get some vitamins in him and wait to see who he turns out to be

He's soooooooo cute!!

 

[tazcat70]

Quote:
Reading that explains why Renee's Orp got so big. Look at the weight gain compared to the other chicks.

Does riboflavin deficiency have any other problems associated with it?

 

[werttyy]

He'll grow into his feathers. Don't worry too much

 

[dak]

It is still doing well. There is no egg mix up from this breeder. He only does one breed and does it VERY well. I'll get pics later.

 

[ChickLit]

Was just a thought since no one else had brought it up

I'd love to see more pictures of the little guy...and his progress as he grows!

 

[speckledhen]

There is some disagreement about the clubbed down being a riboflavin deficiency, I have found, but many still claim that's what it is. Also, it can cause paralysis, curled toes, walking on the hocks, etc.

Signs of riboflavin deficiency in the hen are decreased egg production, increased embryonic mortality, and an increase in size and fat content of the liver. Hatchability decreases within 2 wk when hens are fed a riboflavin-deficient diet but returns to near normal when riboflavin is restored. Embryos from the eggs of hens receiving riboflavin-deficient diets are dwarfed and show characteristically defective down (“clubbed” down). The nervous system of these embryos shows degenerative changes much like those described in riboflavin-deficient chicks.​