strange feathers harmful to chick? *PICS

[Allieharmon]

I have a chick that is between 3 and 4 weeks of age. She was the smallest of the 6 ameraucana chicks I got, but she wasn't too small. She looked normal but since her feathers have started coming in they look very strange. She eats, drinks, poops, acts normally but now she is by far the smallest. She is growing, just slowly. I hadn't noticed that her tail feathers were in until today when i realized that it wasn't downy feathers hanging on, it was actually tail feathers that are one big frizz. All her feathers are odd and getting odder. Will this hurt her? None of the other chicks pick on her. I am giving her vitamins and hard boiled egg yolks as supplements. Her name is Hazel. Again, she acts normal. Here are her pics:









On this last picture you can barely see that her tail feathers are just one big frizz.
Thanks for the help!!
allie

 

[Allieharmon]

Please help me out with this. Would like to get some weight on her. I don't know what to do for her since I dont actually know what is wrong with her. I have read and looked at tons of pictures and none of the feather problems look like hers. I can post more pictures if I need to. I don't want to miss something that is easily treatable with a supplement or something.

 

[my sunwolf]

I'm sorry I can't be much help, I have no idea if there's something wrong or if she's just different. I will say that a few of my easter egger chicks had scraggly feathers or feathers growing in the wrong direction for the first few weeks of life, but then developed normally and look fine at 8 weeks. Maybe continue monitoring and posting pics as she grows, as well as feeding the scrambled egg like you're already doing. I have to say, she definitely doesn't look 3-4 weeks, more like 2, any chance of a miscalculated age?

 

[Allieharmon]

I calculated her age and she should be three weeks exactly.. She lost her egg tooth at the same time as some of my other chicks and they are twice her size. The pictures are five days old so your calculations were correct for the pictures. I really hope that she turns out ok like your chicks!!

 

[CMV]

A bird who is half the size of its brood mates, feathering in poorly, and under weight in appearance is probably not going to make it. It may be a hidden defect or a health issue that is not compatible with life, but either way it is referred to as "failure to thrive". These chicks often die despite our best intentions.

Put the chick on a vitamin regimen. Make sure it is accessing resources as it needs to. Don't hold out much hope for long term survival.

Good luck.

 

[KimberlyJ]

Where did you get the eggs? Or the chicks.... Any chance this chick could be part silkie?

 

[Allieharmon]

fixing to add a new picture. She was hatched on site at the chicken farm where I got her. I suppose she could be part silkie but I have looked at tons of silkie photos and just don't think she looks like one. Her feathers just seem wrong instead of cool like a silkie.

 

[Allieharmon]

This is Hazel today at 3 weeks give or take a day. She is still get Poly-vi-sol and cooked egg yolk.








Any thoughts after seeing current pictures?
allie

 

[CMV]

Any frizzle genes floating around in the flock?