What is wrong with this chick? (pics included)

[HappyKat]

Hi there.

I have 6 chicks. They are 5 week old. They are red sex linked laying chicken (ISA Red). They are all (supposed to be) girls.

They were all developing comparably. We went away, and missed their 2.5 week - 3.5 week development.

When we returned, one chick seemed WAY behind the others with respect to feathering. Her growth was a little behind. She was NOT the smallest. She eats and drinks.

This is a 5 week photo of one of my other chickens. All of the other five look like this (slight differences in colouring of feathers, some have more fuzz on head and neck). They are all really nicely feathered. This hybrid is known to be quick maturers and eggs can arrive anywhere after 19 weeks.

Here is my questionable chicken.

Any ideas what is up?

She is now a little smaller than the others. Or maybe as small as the smallest other healthy chicken.

I have segregated her in her own (slightly) heated pen (red bulb), inside. She has fresh water, chick food, and I have been trying to get her to eat some cottage cheese. She is pooping, and is eating the food, but isn't pounding through it as I would have expected.

Any ideas would be great - I have no clue what is wrong with her. Thanks.

 

[AkTomboy]

I dont know for sure but I did have one who was way behind for almost two weeks then in what seemed like just days caught up and is now one of my biggest girls. Maybe she is just a bit slower. I did watch and make sure that she did get enough food and water and such. Im guessing you will get more help from someone who knows more soon.

 

[Wynette]

I'm curious if you are feeding Dumor brand feed....I had weird feather issues that were slightly similar when feeding this brand. I switched brands, and the feather issues were eliminated. As a test, the next brood I hatched I fed another brand, and had no issues with feathers. Then the following brood, I fed the Dumor again, and voila! Feather issues again. Needless to say, I don't ever feed Dumor any more.

 

[txredneckmedic]

could just be a slow chick

 

[Me + Peeps]

my chicks are three and a half weeks old and they have more feathers something is wrong with it feathering

 

[HappyKat]

I am not feeding Dumor brand feed. And all the chicks are getting the same food. The other 5 are stunning (and very comparable in feathering).

I know that the chick is behind in feathering - but the feathers that are coming in are so odd looking compared to how the other girls feathered.

Any other suggestions? Should I post this in the illness area? I don't know that she is sick, per say.

She continues to be segregated inside, with plenty of food and water. Although she really isn't going through it the way I expected her to go through it. How can I get her to eat more?

 

[Critter Crazed]

First of all I have to say how cute that chick is, all fuzzy and stuff.

And second, I hope all is well.

I researched it a little bit and a couple people say that roos feather out slower. Sorry but maybe it's a roo?
Either that or it's just slower like the others said. If it's acting normal and eating and drinking then I don't think it would be a disease but I'm new at this. Just thought I'd give my two cents!

Good luck!

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

I had one chick like that as well. It was a white orpington cockerel. I didn't realize until I moved them outside that he was being pecked. His feathering looked slow as well. As I was placing them in the carrier to go outside I noticed he had pecks on his wings. Check the chick over good make sure the others are not pecking it.

 

[rachiegirl]

Some chicks simply feather in slower. However, usually that leads to feather picking by the other chicks. I have a RIR banty and he was very slow to feather. When they did start coming in it looked different to the other chicks who already had their feathers, sooo they started picking at his. Once they moved outside to the coop and to free range, the picking stopped. They had better things to do. He is now feathering in nicely!

 

[Akane]

If you already have it seperated I'd probably switch the chick to game bird feed and see if the boost in protein helps.