Emily Carter
Chickens are fascinating creatures, and their feathers are a key part of their anatomy. When chickens are young, they go through a process called molting, where they replace their down with feathers. This happens again later in their juvenile life, where they molt to replace their juvenile feathers. When new feathers emerge, they are known as pin feathers, and they are tightly rolled and look like pins. These feathers are very sensitive and can be painful to touch. As chickens mature, they develop contour feathers, which include wing and tail feathers, and most body feathers. These feathers give each chicken its unique shape, size, and coloration. The process of molting is triggered by the decrease in daylight hours and usually occurs in late summer or early fall. It is an important process that ensures chickens have a functional set of feathers to protect them from the cold weather.
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What You'll Learn
- Chickens with developing feathers are called 'pinfeathers'
- Feathers develop from follicles and emerge looking like pins
- Feathers have a vein in the shaft, which can bleed if the feather is cut
- Roosters and hens can be distinguished by their feathers
- Feathers are made of protein and require energy to develop
Chickens with developing feathers are called 'pinfeathers'
Chickens with developing feathers are called pinfeathers. When new feathers begin to emerge from the follicles, they appear as pins. These new feathers are wrapped in a keratin sheath, which falls off or is groomed off by preening. Once the cover comes off, the feather expands to its full length, and the vein dries up. Pin feathers are very sensitive and can be painful if touched or manipulated. It is recommended not to hold chickens when they have pin feathers.
Pinfeathers are small, hair-like feathers that puff out to retain extra warmth for the chicken during cold weather. They are also noticeable in ill or broody chickens. Chickens lose feathers and grow new ones throughout the year, and once a year, they go through a major refresh of their plumage, called molting. Molting usually occurs in late summer or early fall and generally lasts about seven weeks. However, it can happen at any time.
During molting, chickens stop laying eggs, and their energy is redirected into making feathers. Feathers have a blood supply as they grow, which is contained inside the sheath. After the feather is fully developed, the blood supply ceases. Each feather emerges from a feather follicle, and these follicles follow a particular pattern on the body. Some areas, like the vent, are featherless and are called apterylae.
The outer feathers on a chicken are called contour feathers, and they include the wing and tail feathers and most body feathers. Contour feathers give each chicken its unique shape and color. No two chickens are exactly alike in shape, size, and coloration. Contour feathers are made up of barbs and barbules that interlock to create a stiff, smooth, flat plane. When chickens preen, they smooth and lock these barbs together.
There are several different types of contour feathers, each structured differently for different purposes. At the base of the head and around the chicken's neck are the hackle feathers. On hens, hackles are generally round-tipped, while on roosters, they are longer and pointed at the end and may be iridescent. When a chicken gets angry, these feathers stick up.
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Feathers develop from follicles and emerge looking like pins
Chickens have five main types of feathers, each with a different function. Feathers are made from protein, just like eggs. So, during molting time, chickens stop laying eggs. Instead, their energy is put into making feathers.
Each feather emerges from a feather follicle, and these follicles follow a particular pattern on the body. Feathers are sometimes referred to as "elaborate reptile scales", with birds viewed as a subset of reptiles. Feathers develop from the dermal papillae. They begin to form from feather follicles, which are invaginations starting in the epidermis down to the dermis. It is in the dermis that the follicle and the pulp cavity begin to form the feather. The pulp cavity is the space that contains the feather follicle. The feather filament soon grows out of the follicle due to cell proliferation, which is an increased number of cells as a result of cell growth and division at the follicle base.
When new feathers begin to emerge from the feather follicles, they appear as pins. These new emerging feathers are wrapped in a keratin (protein-derived) sheath that will fall from the feather once it is fully developed. Pin feathers are very sensitive and can be painful if manipulated. That is why it is not recommended to hold chickens while they have pin feathers. It takes 4-6 weeks to grow a feather. After chickens are one year old, they typically molt only once per year during late summer/early fall. These feathers cover the wings and tails and most of the body.
Developing feathers have a vein in the shaft, which can bleed profusely if the feather is cut or torn. When these pin feathers start growing, they are tightly rolled and look like pins sticking out of the chicken's skin. They are covered with a thin, white coating that falls off or is groomed off by preening. When the cover comes off, the feather expands to its full length, and the vein dries up.
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Feathers have a vein in the shaft, which can bleed if the feather is cut
A chicken that has just started developing feathers is called a chick. At one day old, chicks have primary remiges and coverlets of the same length. They lack fully developed rectrices, which typically appear at eight to twelve days old.
Now, onto the topic of feathers and their veins. Indeed, feathers have a vein in the shaft, which can bleed if the feather is cut, broken, or bent. These feathers are called "blood feathers" or "pin feathers." When a new feather is growing, it requires a blood supply to help it develop. This blood supply is contained inside a sheath that surrounds the emerging feather. The presence of blood gives the feather's shaft a distinctive dark blue, red, or pink color, depending on the size of the feather. Once the feather is fully grown, the blood supply is no longer needed, and it dries up and fades away.
If a blood feather is cut or damaged, it can bleed profusely. It is essential to act quickly to stop the bleeding. First, wrap the chicken in a towel to restrain it and reduce stress. Then, locate the broken feather and, using tweezers or needle-nose pliers, grasp the feather firmly at the base of the shaft, close to the chicken's skin. Pull the feather out in one quick movement to minimize bleeding. After removing the feather, apply pressure to the affected area with a pinch of cornstarch, styptic powder, flour, or Quick-Stop to aid in clotting. If the bleeding does not stop within a few minutes, seek veterinary assistance.
It is important to note that pulling a blood feather is very painful for the chicken, so it should only be done if absolutely necessary. Additionally, do not apply styptic powder, cornstarch, or flour directly into an open feather follicle, as it may cause permanent damage and future growth issues for the feather.
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Roosters and hens can be distinguished by their feathers
A chicken that has just started developing feathers is called a chick. Sex-linked feathering is controlled by locus K on the sexual chromosome, with Kn being the most dominant of the allelic series, which controls feather growth rate. One-day-old chicks carrying the Kn allele lack primary and secondary remiges, which may appear as extremely small pinfeathers but are always shorter than the coverlets.
However, it is important to note that distinguishing between roosters and hens based on their feathers is not always accurate. Some breeds, such as Silver Leghorns, have hens that develop spurs on their shanks, a characteristic typically associated with roosters. In other breeds, like the Silkie or Golden Campine, roosters are considered ‘hen feathered’, meaning they lack the distinctive saddle and sickle feathers characteristic of roosters.
Additionally, other physical characteristics and behaviours can also be used to distinguish roosters from hens. Roosters typically have larger combs, wattles, and legs than hens. They may also exhibit behaviours such as courting, crowing, mounting, or sparring, which are not commonly seen in hens.
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Feathers are made of protein and require energy to develop
Feathers are an essential characteristic of birds, and they are made of a protein called beta-keratin. This protein is also found in a chicken's eggs. When a chicken is molting, it stops laying eggs, and its energy is redirected towards growing new feathers. This process requires a significant amount of energy and protein, which is obtained from the bird's diet or muscle tissue.
Developing feathers, also known as pin feathers, are delicate and sensitive structures. They emerge from the feather follicles and are initially covered in a keratin sheath. As the feathers grow, they push away from the growth area, and the sheath disintegrates, allowing the mature feather to unfurl. The growth process is complete when the interlocking structure of the feather is fully formed.
The structure of feathers is intricate, with branching patterns formed by smaller branches fusing to create thicker ones. These branches, known as barbs, barbules, and barbicels, interlock to form a smooth, flexible, and resilient surface. This structure contributes to the feathers' functionality, enabling flight and shedding water.
The colour and shine of feathers are also important aspects of their biology. Feathers obtain their vibrant colours from pigments synthesized by plants and produced by cells in the feather follicle. The shine on feathers is often an indicator of a bird's health, and understanding these colour and shine variations can assist in identifying and sexing birds.
Additionally, feathers play a crucial role in retaining body heat, allowing birds to maintain an active, endothermic lifestyle even in cold environments. The regular replacement of feathers, known as molting, is an essential but costly part of a bird's life cycle. It demands high energy and can make birds more vulnerable to predators due to reduced flight efficiency.
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Frequently asked questions
A chicken that has just started developing feathers is called a chick.
Developing feathers, also known as pin feathers, appear as pins sticking out of the chicken's skin. They are covered with a thin, white coating that falls off as the feather expands to its full length.
It takes 4-6 weeks for a chicken to grow feathers.
