sticky chicken?

[chickpeaz]

Not the delicious crock-pot sticky chicken; that goes in another topic.

No, this is a silly novice cosmetic issue.

I had a chick hatch Saturday night and his/her head feathers are all matted down and stiff. All the others dried nice and fluffy but this one looks ridiculous (...flashing back to There's Something About Mary...). Obviously it can't preen itself on top of its head, and the other chicks don't seem to care enough to do it for him (some friends they are). But it looks so weird. Is there anything I can/should do other than wait a couple weeks until new head feathers start to come in?

 

[THough1956]

If it were me, I would leave it alone. Silkies have a soft skull and I would be afraid I would damage it being this young.

 

[americana-chick]

Hmmm... Not real sure..
But would it really hurt him to not have head feathers for a while if he is warm?
Im no expert so hopefuly someone with more experience will come around.

 

[THough1956]

HAAAA, just realized you said Sticky chicken, not silkie chicken!!

Still think I would just let nature take its course.

 

[americana-chick]

Quote:
Do they always have a soft skull?
I never knew that and i am hatching out some silkie eggs from one of my silkie... Thank you for saying that!

 

[jimnjay]

In a few days it will look the same as the other. You can take a DRY wash cloth and gently rub the head and body to loosen the down. I would not use any damp cloth at this age.

 

[THough1956]

I know the ones with the vaulted skulls do, and am pretty sure they all do. I know I have one that is slightly handicapped due to an early head injury.

 

[THough1956]

Check out this article on the silkies skull

http://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/HoleInHead.html