What’s up with his developing feathers?

[Liz Birdlover]

View attachment 3060032
The trouble is that they’re all developing faster than he is

In batches of chicks I had, there was always 1 slow poke. I'd make sure that chick got some live mealworms, because the others were running around stealing food & scarfing down while slow poke was still trying to figure out how to successfully peck & quickly eat a live mealworm, before it was stolen right out of it's beak. After just a few days, slow pokes were no longer slow.
My 1 chick was always smaller, but now he is absolutely gorgeous!
Just give a little extra nurturing.

(Valentino, runt of the chicks...no longer a runt)

 

[Oldegarlicshnapp]

Yes indeed, this little one has silkied feathers which does occur in Seramas. It is a recessive gene, so can pop up randomly in flocks that carry the gene.
Seramas also come in different sizes (classes), so could explain the size difference in your chicks.

From the internet:

Since the number one defining trait of Seramas is their size, they are placed in different classes based on their size.

• Micro – up to 13 ounces.
• Class A – under 13 ounces.
• Class B – under 16 ounces.
• Class C -under 19 ounces.

Thanks so much!!

 

[NatJ]

faster feathering, may indicate hen....There are charts talking about feather development & gender...

Feather sexing (fast vs. slow feathering) DOES NOT WORK on most chicks.

It only works when someone crosses a fast-feathering father to a slow-feathering mother to get slow sons and fast daughters.

For some breeds, all chicks feather slowly.

For most breeds, all chicks feather quickly. This is generally more convenient for the chicks and their owners, because they are able to keep themselves warm sooner.

Even when a breed has both fast-feathering and slow-feathering chicks, the speed of feathering does not indicate gender unless someone crossed the correct set of parents. All other ways to cross parents are useless for creating feather-sexable chicks (you could get all fast, all slow, or a random mix.)

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Feather sexing (fast vs. slow feathering) DOES NOT WORK on most chicks.

It only works when someone crosses a fast-feathering father to a slow-feathering mother to get slow sons and fast daughters.

For some breeds, all chicks feather slowly.

For most breeds, all chicks feather quickly. This is generally more convenient for the chicks and their owners, because they are able to keep themselves warm sooner.

Even when a breed has both fast-feathering and slow-feathering chicks, the speed of feathering does not indicate gender unless someone crossed the correct set of parents. All other ways to cross parents are useless for creating feather-sexable chicks (you could get all fast, all slow, or a random mix.)

Ok, I didn't know the details. I did find an interesting tidbit of info that may or may not be true. Some long time poultry breeders said most late summer hatch batches had higher ratios of hens. Early Spring hatch batches were most often 50/50 hens & roos. Any experiences with that?
I personally have only hatched a few batches. Indeed, the 2 Spring hatches were half hens half Roos, & the August hatch batch were all hens. Or is it just luck?

 

[Poodlemum]

My lavender Orpington was super tiny and very slow to grow feathers compared to the three others. He ended up being a roo and caught up after the first month or so

 

[NatJ]

Some long time poultry breeders said most late summer hatch batches had higher ratios of hens. Early Spring hatch batches were most often 50/50 hens & roos. Any experiences with that?
I personally have only hatched a few batches. Indeed, the 2 Spring hatches were half hens half Roos, & the August hatch batch were all hens. Or is it just luck?

The closest I've got to that: a late summer hatch with 8 males and 3 females from one set of parents, and 2 males from another set of parents. So 13 total chicks, only 3 females. I assumed it was just one of those things that happen with random chance and small sample sizes.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

Interesting photo...see my baby Homing pigeons? Once in awhile 1 baby won't have chick fuzz. Poor dude looks bald! But feathers do eventually grow fine and by then can't tell baldy was ever bald. Weird huh?