What does "fully feathered " mean?

[CAjerseychick]

Hey guys, me again- so, the term "fully feathered" gets put out there alot! Literally does this mean even the tops of their little chickie heads? Or just 90% (body and most of the neck)-- Like many newbies, the issue is usually about judging when they are OK to be out in coop/ off heat (I know it is also dependant on your local weather/ climate, etc)-- It would be nice to have a pictorial description of what is "feathered enough" to keep a bird warm -- I am assuming that 90% (everything feathered but the head) is enough to keep warm, but I dont know, havent read a discussion on this!
Would be interested, thanks....

 

[Panth]

I would say everything but the head...but of course that depends on how enclosed your coop is and how many bodies will be out there to provide extra heat.

 

[CAjerseychick]

I would say everything but the head...but of course that depends on how enclosed your coop is and how many bodies will be out there to provide extra heat.

Thanx Panth-- I am noticing that the head takes Forever to get feathered-- they are pretty ugly in their adolescent stage --- like little vultures-- I have some 6 weeks old and a set of 15 that will be 2 weeks old tommorrow.... Do you think 15 chicks are enough to stay warm together in a deep hay litter at temps of say about 65-70 at night in their outside coop (the lowest point all night looks to be about 60 degrees outside (so the coop will def be warmer inside) round 4am)-- Am looking to put them out at 3 - 4 weeks (I did the older chicks at that age, and there were only 6 of them, I really didnt know any better but they were raised outside with their mom they were not hatchery chicks)....
PS the coop is straight from the Purina website-- its a heavy duty affair -- we doubled it so its 8 x4 ft and the older chicks will be in one half fenced off from the little ones...(we are hoping to downsize to 12 the number of birds eventually)

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Fully feathered- Everything but head.

70*F is PERFECT. Down here we let out chicks out when their fully feathered when it gets down to 40* and below with no heat lamp. They will be just fine. Maybe even hot, depending on how much room they have.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Fully feathered- Everything but head.

70*F is PERFECT. Down here we let out chicks out when their fully feathered when it gets down to 40* and below with no heat lamp. They will be just fine. Maybe even hot, depending on how much room they have.

Most Excellent CBL, very reassuring (we newbies like lots of reassurance) thx again!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Haha, don't worry- been there, done that

Not to say without mistakes- lets just say my rooster will never grow toenails on some of his 'lack of toe'

Ok, now I helped you- I require a payment of cute chicky pictures

 

[CAjerseychick]

Haha, don't worry- been there, done that

Not to say without mistakes- lets just say my rooster will never grow toenails on some of his 'lack of toe'

Ok, now I helped you- I require a payment of cute chicky pictures

O I was afraid you would say that -- have not figured out how to get picks from my cell phone onto computer and posted! Working on it Promise!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Ooh, I see Don't worry, I won't demand them now

can you e-mail the photos from your phone? Or post them on facebook/twitter?