What breed is he? Why are his feathers so odd?

[BedRock Farm Ladies]

I hatched some chicks and one is the son of my hen, Emerald, but he has extremely strange textured feathers. Is there anything I can do about this that won’t stress him out? His name is Thumper and he is 1-2 weeks old

 

[nuthatched]

Maybe he didn't fluff completely.
He's mix of whatever you birds breeds are.

 

[BedRock Farm Ladies]

Maybe he didn't fluff completely.
He's mix of whatever you birds breeds are.

Maybe. I’ll check his feathers in a Few days again

 

[Nero70002]

Or maybe he jumped in the waterer; is he wet?

 

[BedRock Farm Ladies]

Or maybe he jumped in the waterer; is he wet?

He isn’t wet, his feathers have been odd since hatching. Great thought, though!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

He isn’t wet, his feathers have been odd since hatching. Great thought, though!

Are they stiff.. perhaps covered in traces of albumin from hatching?

Well, I can't see the specific issue but scroll to around page 51 ish of the following link to see some incubation/hatching anomalies and POSSIBLE causes..

https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guideen__053407700_1525_26062017.pdf

Let's see.. Emerald.. the black sex link was not melanistic like this babe.. who's your roo? I see feathered legs and 5 toes.. There's some Silkie in the mix here.. I'm thinking..

Usually known as barnyard cross.. some folks call silkie crosses Satin.. because first generation crosses are always hard feathered. Doesn't look really crested or bearded though.. I would expect at least a crest if my Silkie thought were accurate.

 

[Finnie]

I hatched some chicks and one is the son of my hen, Emerald, but he has extremely strange textured feathers. Is there anything I can do about this that won’t stress him out? His name is Thumper and he is 1-2 weeks old

The chick in the photo is too young to have feathers. That’s his down that’s mussed up. From hatching fluid that dries on, like mousse in your hair. It will disappear when his actual feathers come in.

At 2 weeks old, he should be getting wing feathers. What do those look like?

 

[BedRock Farm Ladies]

The chick in the photo is too young to have feathers. That’s his down that’s mussed up. From hatching fluid that dries on, like mousse in your hair. It will disappear when his actual feathers come in.

At 2 weeks old, he should be getting wing feathers. What do those look like?

I will take a picture now, give me a moment!

 

[BedRock Farm Ladies]

The chick in the photo is too young to have feathers. That’s his down that’s mussed up. From hatching fluid that dries on, like mousse in your hair. It will disappear when his actual feathers come in.

At 2 weeks old, he should be getting wing feathers. What do those look like?

His feathers are less odd now, they’re coming in a lot better than expected, at hatching I wasn’t sure he’d make it butt he’s getting better!!

 

[BedRock Farm Ladies]

Are they stiff.. perhaps covered in traces of albumin from hatching?

Well, I can't see the specific issue but scroll to around page 51 ish of the following link to see some incubation/hatching anomalies and POSSIBLE causes..

https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guideen__053407700_1525_26062017.pdf

Let's see.. Emerald.. the black sex link was not melanistic like this babe.. who's your roo? I see feathered legs and 5 toes.. There's some Silkie in the mix here.. I'm thinking..

Usually known as barnyard cross.. some folks call silkie crosses Satin.. because first generation crosses are always hard feathered. Doesn't look really crested or bearded though.. I would expect at least a crest if my Silkie thought were accurate.

He is part silkie. His father was sadly taken by a fox, but I do have pictures, they are shown below