Crest Feathers--is this normal??

[kayjk27]

Just got our very first chicken. He is about 4-5 months old and we have had him for about 10 days. He seems to be losing his crest feathers? Or maybe more/bigger feathers are coming in? Just making sure this is normal...thanks.

 

[featherhead007]

Mine never looked like that!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

He is getting in new feathers. What you see is the keratin sheath which is covering the feathers, that will eventually flake off and the feather will unfurl.

Look closely and you can see the tips of feathers coming out of the end of the sheaths.