Six Chicks, one feathering a lot slower - Also, what breed are they??

[ChevalierNoir]

Hi everyone! We got our first six chicks about six weeks ago. Two buff orpingtons, two blue orpingtons, and two barred rocks. They're all eating, playing and appear healthy. Five of them have been feathering out really nicely, but one of the buffs is visibly behind. I noticed her pecking at a spot on her back as well.

Here are 4 of the 'normal' looking chickens.

And here is a picture of our slow to feather chick. You can see where she's been pecking at her back.

Is this something to be concerned about or should I just wait another couple of weeks to let her catch up?

This photo was from a couple weeks ago, but you can still see the one that isn't quite the same.

 

[Coops Dad]

It happens. It'll feather out eventually and be just fine. It's due to a slow feathering gene.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Some individuals just feather in more slowly. I would keep an eye on that spot on her back though. Redness like that will attract the other chicks' attention and could become a much bigger wound.

Where did you get your chicks? None of those chicks are buff or barred. Buff should be a golden yellow color. The "buff" chick that's feathering slowly looks more like lavender. And the other buff looks like a splash? One of the blues almost looks laced (could be just really defined lacing from the andalusian blue, it's hard to tell)

 

[ChevalierNoir]

Some individuals just feather in more slowly. I would keep an eye on that spot on her back though. Redness like that will attract the other chicks' attention and could become a much bigger wound.

Where did you get your chicks? None of those chicks are buff or barred. Buff should be a golden yellow color. The "buff" chick that's feathering slowly looks more like lavender. And the other buff looks like a splash? One of the blues almost looks laced (could be just really defined lacing from the andalusian blue, it's hard to tell)

Thanks for the reply! Interesting that they're not the breeds I thought I purchased. Would love any insight on what y'all think they might be!

Chicks came from a Family Farm and Home store here in Michigan.

I tried to find a better photo that shows more of their profiles but don't seem to have any here at work. Here's one from when we just had them for a few weeks

 

[AinaWGSD]

At this age it can be hard to tell breeds. They certainly look like orpingtons, they seem to have the right skin color and comb type. Barred birds though have the white barring as soon as their feathers start coming in, so those are definitely not barred rocks. They could be barred rock based sex links. A non barred rooster over a barred hen will produce solid pullets and barred cockerels.

 

[ChevalierNoir]

I got home and took the chicks out for their outside time and tried to get a few better pictures. Love to hear what everyone thinks!

 

[Squawkers]

Quite a few of them look like they have slate colored feet. I’m not entirely positive, but I thought orpingtons feet were more pink

 

[ChevalierNoir]

Quite a few of them look like they have slate colored feet. I’m not entirely positive, but I thought orpingtons feet were more pink

That makes me wonder if my slow-to-feather friend is actually an buff colored orpington like the store said, and the fluffier light-colored bird is something else. I agree with @AinaWGSD that the feathering looks like it could be splash colored

 

[Squawkers]

That makes me wonder if my slow-to-feather friend is actually a buff colored orpington like the store said, and the fluffier light-colored bird is something else. I agree with @AinaWGSD that the feathering looks like it could be splash colored

Is that one the only one whose feet are not slate colored?

 

[ChevalierNoir]

Is that one the only one whose feet are not slate colored?

Yeah, the rest seem to be varying shades of slate.