Biddie is lethargic and has a large underside.

[Brylocke]

I'm new to raising chickens from biddies. I bought 10 hens from tractor supply.

One of my white orpington biddies, about 3 weeks old, is very lethargic. It is about softball sized. Its underside, below its vent seemstip much more swollen than the other orpington chick I have. It is almost always laying down when I come to check on them. I was wondering if something major is wrong.

I change the water twice a day, I change the bedding out every 3 days. They are in a 150 gallon water trough with dried wood chips in it. I also replace the food every night with clean food.

I feed them dumor starter chick feed.

Im in South louisiana and its been running 95 degrees but they are in the shade. They have a brooder thats about 4 ft from them that i leave off during the day.

Pictures included.

Thanks.

 

[Finnie]

I believe you have a meat bird there. It may not be swollen so much as “fat”. They grow way faster than layer breed chicks. You said “one of my white orpingtons”. Feed store orpingtons are usually buff colored. So that has me wondering what your other “white” chicks actually are. Can you post photos of them?

 

[Brylocke]

I only purchased 2 of the white hens. I got 4 unsexed red sex link, 2 black Asian, and 2 silver laced Wyandottes.

Here are pictures of the other healthier white chick.

Sorry if there are repeat pictures. I had some technical difficilties.

 

[coach723]

Are these white ones a lot larger than the sexlinks and wyandottes? I suspect meat bird also.

 

[Brylocke]

Yes, they are almost twice as large. That makes sense. A meat bird makes sense. It says on wikipedia that they are dual purpose.

I guess now it is just a waiting game to see what they really are. Thank you.

 

[coach723]

If they are meat birds like Cornish Cross, they are going to be ready to process at about 8-10 weeks. They may have more problems because they grow so fast, bone growth often can't keep up with meat growth. Their legs can give out, or their hearts can fail. Just want you to know, and prepare for, what may be coming if that's what they are.

 

[Brylocke]

Thank you. I'll see how they look at 10 weeks and I may just have to plan a bbq.