Why the red face. And broken feathers on cockerel?

[acy0029]

My chicks are 3 1/2 months old now and a couple of the pullets are starting to get really red faces. An RSL which isn't unheard of for them to lay at 16 weeks,but I also have a New Hampshire that is getting a really red face and waddles are coming in quickly. I also have 4 cockerels in the pen and all of them have broken tail feathers are they breaking each others feathers?
RSL

New Hampshire

Brown Leghorn Cockerel (only one I could get to stand still long enough to get a clear pic with my sub-par camera)

 

[al6517]

The faces on your birds all look normal.................. as for the feathers breaking it will be one of 3 things,
1. poor nutritients needed for stronger feathers.
2. pen condition, lot's of wire and close quarters along with flightiness, that will often damage feathers.
3. other birds or Roosters pecking the feathers as a sign of the pecking order.

 

[acy0029]

Quote:
That confirms my thoughts on the feather breakage their run isn't complete yet so they are a bit confined at the moment.
14 weeks doesn't seem to young for a New Hampshire's face to start turning red? I have two and the other one has very little red and no real waddles yet.

 

[al6517]

Yeah yer fine, I wouldn't fret much. When their new diggs are complete and they molt they will be great.

 

[acy0029]

Thanks