How to identify frizzle chicks as hatchlings

Hi guys! Things have been busy around here lately so I’ve neglected to post. But here is a short post on how to identify frizzle chicks after hatching (once they’re dry).  I’ve had many friends order frizzle chicks only to discover that none of them carried the frizzle (feathers curling forward rather than laying flat and smooth) gene. From what I’ve raised, only about 25% of frizzle chicks actually inherit the frizzle gene.

Here’s how I identify them right after hatching:

1. In the below image note the two arrows at the heads. The first/front chick has down on its head that is clearly curling forward. The second arrow shows a chick behind where the down feathers on the head are straight. 
2. Next, look at the circled areas. The first/front chick’s back down is clearly curling forward. The one behind it in the middle had a tough hatch but you can still see her down is straight. The third chick is questionable as his down is showing both straight and curled feathers. Some frizzles are more “frizzled” than others.
3. Not pictured (because they won’t stand still long enough) is their wing tips. Even as down feathers they also curl forward. Since chicks tend to lay on their sides occasionally, crimping their down, the wings aren’t always a reliable area until you see a bit of growth during the first week. Once that happens you can see the difference between chicks primary feathers that lay flat against the body and the chicks with primary wing tips growing away from the body with a slight curl at the tips. Some frizzles have the curly primary wing feathers and some frizzles can have straighter wing tips…so this isn’t always reliable. But if you see this sign as well as the curled forward down around the body then congratulations, you’ve got a frizzle! 

None of your chicks have curled down? Guess what? Some chicks without curled down can still be frizzled. You’ll know quickly once their wing feathers start growing out. Smooth feathered chickens tend to have wing tips that grow close to the body. Frizzles wing tips curve away from their body. 

xo