( ), two weeks and 15 1/2 weeks:
When my chicks were brand new I so wanted to know what they would look like as adults. I couldn't find much on it at all.
So, here are some before and after pictures:
At 3 days (the yellow one (pullet) and the brown one (cockerel) - the blue one on the right was stressed in transport and died the next day
View attachment 1087829 View attachment 1087831 View attachment 1087835
Sorry, the picture is a bit dark.
So the yellow one ended up millefleur with a goregeous soft orange tone and the little roo is a fascinating blue and red - can't wait to see how his colors will turn out once he matures.
Do you want to post your chick - juvenile or adult pictures so we can see more
examples? I would love that!
Good observation and yes, you are absolutely correct, no tail feathers yet on the little roo. He is the blue-red cockerel in the last picture.So far, my blonde babies do end up millie fleur as well. My black ones have ended up being snow leopard. Wish I could remember the brown ones, those seem to be my favorite color in the chicks.
Interesting side note... in your pic (reddish pic #2) of the blonde and the brown one, does the brown one not show tail feathers and the blonde one is? Or am I just not seeing his tail feathers? The lack of tail feathers has ALWAYS been boys for me. So if that's the case, then this is a nice example!
Yes I would like to candle them! Now of course I haven't been able to catch a time when she's off the eggs. I haven't seen any other eggs in the coop from the other girls the past few days. Not sure if it's normal for regular egg laying to drop off when one of the girls has gone broody?It's actually relative to when they started being sat on full time verses when they were laid. I would probably try to candle at about this time to see if there is any development. With it being your first time though, I might not discard them if I couldn't see the development. But it is an amazing sight to behold the eye forming and the heart beating. But I guess having young ones, you've probably recently experienced that!!
It doesn't really take too much extra effort once you get it figure out. Check the link in my signature for quick facts. If nothing else, and you truly think moisture is part of the issue, soak you feed and see if it helps. (I still remember you are busy)
Nutrition is key for many things. 
Scratch grains and other "treats" like watermelon and such can diminish your protein level too far, especially since layer is only 16% which is the minimum suggested for light breeds like leghorn... and maybe your calcium level if you don't offer OS on the side. Scratch grains is often 8%, depending on the ratio you are using... you can see where you might run into some issues including reduced laying and feather pecking. Heat does have some impact, and that may be it. But if it's seasonal then you shouldn't see a sudden drop in production. Hey, maybe a perfect time for you to try fermenting your feed... it will easily increase moisture uptake and not have to take in moisture to wet the feed. Plus the benefits are huge. The one that made me stick with it is the difference in how less offensive the poo smell was!
Personally for breeding I feed 20% protein flock raiser with oyster shell on the side. It has been shown that higher protein feed (the amino acids there in) actually gives better hatch rates and viability to chicks. (can go find studies if you care to see them) Not knocking those who feed layer and hatch all day long. Too much OS, as in layer feed *can* (doesn't mean will) cause kidney issues long term in non layers like broody's, roosters, chicks, molting hens, or growing birds. Since I always have broody's, chicks, grow outs, and roosters... there is NO way I'm feeding separately.
That being said, my birds are free range and I have no control over what they eat. The 20% gives me a little wiggle room without worry. And most of my birds are heavy breed/dual purpose. It's enough for chicks without being too much for hens. It's a happy medium, not perfection. Scratch is candy bars and should be fed at a rate of no more than 10% of the total daily ration. Or better yet, avoided all together, it wasn't even cheap last time I looked at it. And people think they are doing their birds good when they feed lettuce and such, but it is high bulk low nutrient so in fact doing the exact opposite of what they intend. Yes I still do watermelon, cantaloupe, or whatever refreshing things... frozen peas are a great source of protein!!! People will freeze peas, corn, carrots, chunks of grapes or whatever in a larger hunk of ice that melts throughout the day as they peck down to it. Bonus, free enrichment for the birds and a refreshing, nutritious treat that goes farther while increasing hydration.
Sorry for going on and on!
ETA: it is my understanding that heat can make for softer or brittle shells.
