5 week old chick is acting off/ failure to thrive??

[LaFleche]

That does not sound all that encouraging, but I would wait until the de-worming shows effect.

Do they have a heat source? If not, I would provide one for her as all her futile cuddling efforts with the others might be caused by feeling cold.

 

[ncamp]

That does not sound all that encouraging, but I would wait until the de-worming shows effect.

Do they have a heat source? If not, I would provide one for her as all her futile cuddling efforts with the others might be caused by feeling cold.

I agree. I'm feeling very discouraged. They do still have a heat lamp at night only. During the day it's in the 90's. Ive only left it because of her. At night they all move to the unheated side of the brooder (she ends up with them eventually) so I know the rest don't need it. I will keep her here when I move the rest to school. I don't have access to power at school so she can't have the heat lamp there.
I'll wait and see what happens after the de wormer...how long do you think?
Regardless I'll need to move the rest this weekend, they need more space. Sigh.

 

[LaFleche]

I agree. I'm feeling very discouraged. They do still have a heat lamp at night only. During the day it's in the 90's. Ive only left it because of her. At night they all move to the unheated side of the brooder (she ends up with them eventually) so I know the rest don't need it. I will keep her here when I move the rest to school. I don't have access to power at school so she can't have the heat lamp there.
I'll wait and see what happens after the de wormer...how long do you think?
Regardless I'll need to move the rest this weekend, they need more space. Sigh.

That often depends of the kind of de-wormer, the type of worms and the actual amount that might be feeding on her.

Best de-wormers are those, that do not kill all worms immediately as this might lead to a toxic shock triggered by the toxins of the dying worms.

 

[LaFleche]

...She is so small so I weighed her. She is 4oz at 6 weeks old. For reference, the other chicks who are either the same age or 1 week older are between 12oz and 18oz. They are all different breeds though. She's fully feathered, same as the other chicks. I don't know if she's a bantam or just really small. Her egg was labeled as a buff orpington and it was a bit smaller than the others. Ive never had bantam chicks so?? ...

She might be a bantam but even so something is definitely off. Hopefully it is worms.

 

[ncamp]

She might be a bantam but even so something is definitely off. Hopefully it is worms.

When I take the others to school, I'm leaving daffodil and I'm debating keeping one other chick as well.
One of my school hens is sitting on fertilized eggs that are due to hatch this weekend (she wouldn't stop brooding so I gave in). The babies will be going back to the farm where I got the eggs and I'm taking one other chick that I'm pretty sure is a rooster, to live there as well. I figured rather than move him around a bunch I'd just keep him here until I take the babies.
Do you think he'd pick on Daffodil? He has calmed down since I got rid of the other two boys that hatched with him.

 

[LaFleche]

Do you think he'd pick on Daffodil? He has calmed down since I got rid of the other two boys that hatched with him.

You never know and I would rather put some kind of separation between the two, so they will still be able to interact and cuddle, but each on their own side so Daffodil will not get hurt.

 

[ncamp]

You never know and I would rather put some kind of separation between the two, so they will still be able to interact and cuddle, but each on their own side so Daffodil will not get hurt.

I can do that!
Thank you so so much for all your help with this! I truly appreciate it!

 

[LaFleche]

You are very welcome, I just hope she recovers and you can start to enjoy.

 

[ncamp]

Something or ALL things are working! She's been moving around, pecking at things and in general acting like a chick!! I took them all to the school yesterday and I brought her as well, just to see how'd she do since she'd been doing better at home. I spent 5 hours sitting in the run and she was awesome. We're in the middle of some serious awful heat (poor chicks) so I decided to leave her there overnight. I was back first thing this morning and she was running around pecking at everything. She even climbed up a little ladder ramp!
She may not end up staying at school if they pick on her but at least she's seemingly healthy (hopefully stays that way) and I'll be able to find her a good home if needed.
This morning our broody hens eggs started to hatch as well...it's been a great day!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your help! You've been a lifesaver, literally.
Nichole

 

[LaFleche]

Well done! I am happy for you to see that with all your good care everything seems to turn out alright!

Fingers crossed for your broody and let us see the little family when her chicks will be all fluffed up and bustling about.