KaleoKolea
In the Brooder
I hope I'm posting this in the right place! I didn't post in the medical forum because at this point I don't think this chicken is actually sick.
We currently have a batch of 18 chicks between 7 and 8 weeks old. Twelve were sent to us by family from a hatchery, and then six buff rocks came from a local breeder. They have all been healthy and active except for one particular buff rock. This one chicken is always separated from the rest of the flock, is not as active, and doesn't come running with the rest when we call for feeding time. I've been calling her Caboose.
It took us a couple weeks to confirm it was the same chicken left behind every time. Her feathers are a slightly darker color than the rest of the buffs, and over the last two weeks she has become significantly smaller than the rest. She also has a different beak shape (kind of hooked with a little dip and bump on the end) and is very skinny. When you feel her breast area she's just all keelbone.
She has also been different, behavior wise. The best way I can describe it is slow. She doesn't run or jump around a lot. She doesn't move away when approached and allows you to pick her up. Sometimes she'll just follow people around aimlessly. She has a hard time navigating going back into the coop at night.
A few days ago she really seemed in rough shape- just sitting under shelter all day, alone, with a dirty face, droopy wings, crying pitifully. Suspecting illness we finally separated her from the rest and brought her inside. We cleaned her up, got her set up in a kennel with lots of food and water available, and really kept an eye on her. She's definitely odd. She cries a lot until you pick her up, and then if you sit down with her in your lap she just "pancakes" there and preens or naps. She's eating and drinking a lot now, and her poops look healthy. If we have to do stuff and she wants to be held we place her in a cloth bag and hang it around our necks and she's super content in there.
We're going to keep her inside for 7 days for observation. Today she is quite a bit more active than the first day inside and is sleeping less, but still slow in everything she does.
After reading other threads about slow and needy chicks, I've been looking into a possible vitamin deficiency, and have been feeding her the same chop my parrot gets along with her normal chick feed. Once I have a day off I want to see if I can find a vitamin supplement as well- though supplies are really hit or miss here on Big Island.
I guess my questions are- is there anything else that could be going on with this chick aside from a general failure to thrive or nutritional deficiency? Is there anything else we can give her to help get her weight up? If she stays slow and small, is she at risk of being picked on by the rest of the flock forever, and what are some ways we can mitigate that while still letting her "be a chicken" and not stuck in the house all day?
Couple of Caboose pictures for tax.
We currently have a batch of 18 chicks between 7 and 8 weeks old. Twelve were sent to us by family from a hatchery, and then six buff rocks came from a local breeder. They have all been healthy and active except for one particular buff rock. This one chicken is always separated from the rest of the flock, is not as active, and doesn't come running with the rest when we call for feeding time. I've been calling her Caboose.
It took us a couple weeks to confirm it was the same chicken left behind every time. Her feathers are a slightly darker color than the rest of the buffs, and over the last two weeks she has become significantly smaller than the rest. She also has a different beak shape (kind of hooked with a little dip and bump on the end) and is very skinny. When you feel her breast area she's just all keelbone.
She has also been different, behavior wise. The best way I can describe it is slow. She doesn't run or jump around a lot. She doesn't move away when approached and allows you to pick her up. Sometimes she'll just follow people around aimlessly. She has a hard time navigating going back into the coop at night.
A few days ago she really seemed in rough shape- just sitting under shelter all day, alone, with a dirty face, droopy wings, crying pitifully. Suspecting illness we finally separated her from the rest and brought her inside. We cleaned her up, got her set up in a kennel with lots of food and water available, and really kept an eye on her. She's definitely odd. She cries a lot until you pick her up, and then if you sit down with her in your lap she just "pancakes" there and preens or naps. She's eating and drinking a lot now, and her poops look healthy. If we have to do stuff and she wants to be held we place her in a cloth bag and hang it around our necks and she's super content in there.
We're going to keep her inside for 7 days for observation. Today she is quite a bit more active than the first day inside and is sleeping less, but still slow in everything she does.
After reading other threads about slow and needy chicks, I've been looking into a possible vitamin deficiency, and have been feeding her the same chop my parrot gets along with her normal chick feed. Once I have a day off I want to see if I can find a vitamin supplement as well- though supplies are really hit or miss here on Big Island.
I guess my questions are- is there anything else that could be going on with this chick aside from a general failure to thrive or nutritional deficiency? Is there anything else we can give her to help get her weight up? If she stays slow and small, is she at risk of being picked on by the rest of the flock forever, and what are some ways we can mitigate that while still letting her "be a chicken" and not stuck in the house all day?
Couple of Caboose pictures for tax.
I hope that doesn't happen with this one! She is 7 weeks old now, that makes me not want to put her back outside. I guess we'll see how she is in a week or two. I've had that happen with calves but never chickens before.
