Button chick not growing

[Dimples_vixi]

I’ve got a little button chick, 4 days old, who is so tiny and doesn’t seem to be growing. His siblings are getting lovely and big and running around everywhere. This little titch though drinks plenty, has a peck around the food occasionally and sleeps lots! It has the occasional spurt of energy then goes right back to sleep. I tried separating it but it got very upset, peeping constantly and shaking so it’s back with the others again. I have vitamins in the water to try and boost it a bit, does anyone have any suggestions how I can get it bulked up?

 

[Abriana]

I had a CHICKEN chick do this, not quail. And I’m no quail expert, but sometimes there are weaker ones that have no explained illness but just don’t make it. The chick I had died, dispite everything I did. I’m not saying give up here, but this was my experience.
Give the little guy some poultry electrolytes and probiotics.
Good luck! I’m sure some quail experts will chime in here soon.

 

[Dimples_vixi]

Thank you, he seems to be a bit livelier today. Here is a photo of him with another button chick and a coturnix. You can definitely see the size difference when compared to the other button.

 

[Abriana]

Thank you, he seems to be a bit livelier today. Here is a photo of him with another button chick and a coturnix. You can definitely see the size difference when compared to the other button.

Whoa, that’s a big difference. Do they get along or pick on him? I know chickens sometimes single out the weak ones. He’s cute!
@JaeG from the quail posts I’ve read you seem pretty knowledgeable. Mind lending a hand here? I’m no quail expert.

 

[JaeG]

All you can do is your best for the little mite and if it's going to make it it will. I've had the odd quail chick that just didn't seem to thrive but often it's been one I've helped to hatch (I like to give them a chance). Keep an eye on its development - if it's getting pin feathers when its siblings are etc. It could just be a bit of a runt. It's a good sign that it seems more active and sometimes you'll get a Button that's a bit smaller but then catches up once they are a bit older. You may need to set up a separate brooder for it giving it a Button friend or two to keep it company as the Coturnix, being quite a bit bigger, may start to trample it (without meaning to - just because they are bigger and a bit clumsier). Let us know how it goes.

 

[Dimples_vixi]

Thank you for your replies. Yes it does get trampled on fairly but it doesn’t help itself by purposely running under their bellies! I don’t particularly see it eating but it must be if it’s here 4 days later. This was an assisted hatch chick so maybe that could be one of the reasons.

 

[tumnus]

Keep an eye out for pasty butt. I had a quail chick come down with a bad case of it during its first 2 to 3 days and even now at day 16 it's still stunted from that temporary lack of growth.

 

[romea]

In case it is still alive, I suggest to offer it scrambled eggs.

 

[little-beep]

I know this is a very old thread, but I have a tiny week old button chick who still looks like it's only a day old while the others all have feathers and are growing nicely. The runt is acting normal, but not growing in spite of the vitamins and 30% protein feed it's eating. It's pooping normally, etc though.

 

[Chip76]

One of my gambel quail grew much slower than all the others, but eventually she caught up. I'm not sure why some grow faster than others. I suspect she wasn't eating as much perhaps. She's full size now and healthy. She'll be three years old in May.

Even her feathers and wings filled in about a week later than all the others. She was the last to hatch, but it was only four hours later.