Weird feathers

[jess8704]

So my chicks are about 6 weeks old and this guy (or gal?) seems to be having a tough time with its feathers. There seems to be bald spots. It eats and drinks well, doesn't seem to be sick, and is probably the most feisty. Should I worry or no?

 

[Peeps61]

What kind of chick is it? Those look like rooster feathers to me, but some breeds of chickens have feathers like that for the hens too.

 

[keesmom]

Cockerels can be slow to feather out.

 

[jess8704]

I'm really not sure what kind they are. I got them at Tractor Supply who had them labeled as Asian black chickens. That of course brings up nothing when it's goggled. LOL I thought they were maybe black sex links but I'm just not sure any more.

 

[Peeps61]

They don't look like BSL to me. Not knowing anything about the breed, and just going by what they look like, I'd think the one in the picture is a cockerel. I could be wrong though. There are others who have a better eye than I do.

 

[donrae]

Agree that's a cockerel, he's just feathering out slow. He'll look normal in a few weeks.

 

[jess8704]

Thanks! That is the only one of the bunch doing that so could the other 5 be hens? These are our first chickens to raise so aside from reading up on feeding, watering, and housing, I know very little about them.

 

[junebuggena]

Do any of your other chicks have bright pink combs? If so, they are probably boys.

 

[jess8704]

2 other ones have bright red combs. I'm using my phone right now and it will not let me post pics to this site for some reason.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

The one in the photo has a heavy bone structure and a largest early redding comb. On that alone i think that it is a male.