Would a 7-week old chick molt?

[IamRainey]

Doesn't seem very likely to me but I've got one who arrived with bare spots on her neck and now she's sporting a naked spot just in front of her tail feathers. I only saw it briefly twice. It's clearly denuded but I can't say it looked raw or sore to my inexperienced eyes.

I only have 3. They're the same age and arrived a week ago in the same box (via the post office). I don't see any bullying/pecking behavior and they all stick to one another like shadows. I take that as an indication that they're very comfortable together.

My naked one is the smallest but she seems the second boldest to me, just behind the middle sized one. The largest seems to be the one who follows the other two. So could it be molting that's causing the loss of feathers? She's a Partridge Plymouth Rock if breed has anything to do with it.

 

[junebuggena]

Chickens go through several molts until they are about 5 to 6 months of age. Those first feathers only cover so much, and chicks grow very fast. The only way to stay covered is to keep replacing their little baby feathers with bigger and bigger feathers, until they are grown and fully mature. You also need to keep in mind that feathers don't grow out of every single spot of skin, the way that fur does. There are certain areas that will never have feather follicles.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I agree with Junebuggena.

Chicks molt, and often around 6 to 7 weeks, as chick down is replaced by the first feathers. Some can look pretty sorry for awhile.

They'll have several juvenile molts as feathers grow in, again looking somewhat sorry for awhile, and gangly.

Always keep an eye out to make sure nobody is picking, and do a regular visual check for any creepy crawlies such as mites.

But chances are, she's having a very, very, bad hair day. But, good news, she'll grow out of it (and console her, chickens don't get acne!)

LofMc

 

[IamRainey]

Thanks for the good news! So nice to think my babes are as tight as they seem. If only adding new ones next year will be as easy...

Even if they're so comfortable with one another they don't seem to want any part of me. Is that because they spent their first 6 weeks in a hatchery? Will they ever be handle-able like pets, do you think?

 

[PennyM]

That might change...a little! We got our chickens at the end of April and after sitting in their run with them, talking to them and giving them a few treats for a month or two or three, they now come running when they see us! They just started laying near the end of August and this is the friendliest they've ever been. I can actually pick them up but they definitely are not lap sitters!