Causes of stunted chick growth?

[Choook]

@blasterssen Here's a comparison pic - both of the chooks in this pic are supposed to be black copper marans (although supposedly purebred they obviously aren't - a helpful expert on another thread said likely crossed with golden salmon) and both are the same age (a couple of months now) - but you can see how very different they look!

@fatcatx - did your dwarf end up being able to lay? (Although I still can't even begin to guess the gender of the dwarf chook either since it isn't even growing hackle feathers...)

 

[fatcatx]

Thanks for posting this thread. If you are still on the boards, can you give an update on whether the chook was able to lay or not in the end? I have one with the same issue (interestingly, also a maran - although supposedly a black copper maran*) - the clutch is a few months old now and the 'dwarf' one still looks like a chick. Active and happy and eating though. Thanks!

*I say supposedly because neither of the BCMs I bought from this breeder actually look much like BCMs so I suspect at best they are crosses...

So sorry - haven't signed in and had a good look around in ages so didn't see your post. You probably already have your answer since your pullet is 6 months old. Yes, Pee Wee became a successful layer. Her eggs are decent size but a size s smaller than the others - typically a medium. One issue is that the bloom on her eggs tends to be sticky so nest box filler gets glued to her eggs and they are more prone to having blood spots. Other than that she is onery and chugging right along!

funny how both our chicks are Marans. Hmmm....

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

@blasterssen Here's a comparison pic - both of the chooks in this pic are supposed to be black copper marans (although supposedly purebred they obviously aren't - a helpful expert on another thread said likely crossed with golden salmon) and both are the same age (a couple of months now) - but you can see how very different they look!

View attachment 1204345
View attachment 1204346

@fatcatx - did your dwarf end up being able to lay? (Although I still can't even begin to guess the gender of the dwarf chook either since it isn't even growing hackle feathers...)

she looks so cute

 

[Pagoda88]

I call her my keyboard ninja. Her name is doobie. She is 7 weeks old!! Soooo small, yes she is a bantam, but still it's tiny!
She is alone now - being smaller and mum has finished with her. She is alone and gets bullied. So she is helping out in my office. Hope she survives. When she gets stronger I will try to re-introduce her to the rest.

 

[CYoder1181]

I'll keep hoping, but we're several months in, and our dwarf chook still only looks a couple of weeks old - only the wings have feathered at this stage, and even those not fully. It's about a quarter of the size of the other pullets in the clutch (and can literally run underneath the legs of the roo!).

I have an Exchequer Leghorn with same situation. Still looks like a chick except the wing feathers have come in. It's almost like she's 2 or 3 weeks behind the others. She's so tiny - still seems like she is the size of a newborn chick. The size difference between her and the rest of the crew is now where she is like a 1/4 of the size of the rest. We are hoping for the best but I worry. Don't understand how a chick can have such delayed growth but seem healthy in the sense that she's eating, drinking, happy, etc.

 

[EggsistentialChickenRodeo]

It's been 3 yrs since last post but I'm experiencing the same with a Lavender Orpington TSC. Hers seems neurological as she sometimes shakes or falls over. She eats and keeps up with Mum and 6 siblings. Seems bright and alert but does rest more. Minimal wing feathering and just a stub of a tail. They are 4 wks on Monday the 20th.

I have given them all nutri-drench by mixing with water and soaking their crumble (non-medicated)

I'm posting because now that everyone is roosting she's being left alone to sleep on the coop floor and doesn't have balance or flapping power to get to or even stay on the roost. We're giving her a chance.

2 other chicks also have less feathering but are larger and able to fly up to roost.

It's really been noticeable for the past 3 weeks although the shaking seems decreased With the extra vitamins. He name is Wendy.

If contagious I would think all would have it unless they are immune. No vaccines that I'm aware of.

Any other experiences that may help guide us through this? Or help with expectations

Thank you all so much for this wonderful site!

Attaching a Pic to show the size and feathering difference

 

[Chickabidi]

It's been 3 yrs since last post but I'm experiencing the same with a Lavender Orpington TSC. Hers seems neurological as she sometimes shakes or falls over. She eats and keeps up with Mum and 6 siblings. Seems bright and alert but does rest more. Minimal wing feathering and just a stub of a tail. They are 4 wks on Monday the 20th.

I have given them all nutri-drench by mixing with water and soaking their crumble (non-medicated)

I'm posting because now that everyone is roosting she's being left alone to sleep on the coop floor and doesn't have balance or flapping power to get to or even stay on the roost. We're giving her a chance.

2 other chicks also have less feathering but are larger and able to fly up to roost.

It's really been noticeable for the past 3 weeks although the shaking seems decreased With the extra vitamins. He name is Wendy.

If contagious I would think all would have it unless they are immune. No vaccines that I'm aware of.

Any other experiences that may help guide us through this? Or help with expectations

Thank you all so much for this wonderful site!

Attaching a Pic to show the size and feathering difference

I have the same exact situation minus the shaking- I haven’t noticed that. My little lavender Orpington (also TSC) is almost 2 weeks and about half the size of all of the rest (2 other lavender Orpington and three olive eggers) the first couple of days she was a little lethargic so I syringed her some egg yolk and sugar water and she was back to good within a day, and now she is happily hopping around the brooder, just as active as her companions but easily half their size.

 

[EggsistentialChickenRodeo]

I have the same exact situation minus the shaking- I haven’t noticed that. My little lavender Orpington (also TSC) is almost 2 weeks and about half the size of all of the rest (2 other lavender Orpington and three olive eggers) the first couple of days she was a little lethargic so I syringed her some egg yolk and sugar water and she was back to good within a day, and now she is happily hopping around the brooder, just as active as her companions but easily half their size.

Tomorrow is 7 weeks and I'm happy to report the little one is doing great! I continued with nutri-drench and added egg. It appears she has the shredder feather gene and while she gets around great eating heartily her neck appears shorter. She can join the others on the roost (yay!) but she sits oddly... can't quite put my finger on it - she actually seems to do better on a 2" board as opposed to our higher 4" roosts but once she makes it she's there overnight. Yours were from tsc - I'm wondering if it's the same hatchery. The two stubby ones are still less feathered on the tails one is darker but development is close. I'll update pics and am attaching latest. Good luck with yours! Please feel free to post updates

 

[EggsistentialChickenRodeo]

Tomorrow is 7 weeks and I'm happy to report the little one is doing great! I continued with nutri-drench and added egg. It appears she has the shredder feather gene and while she gets around great eating heartily her neck appears shorter. She can join the others on the roost (yay!) but she sits oddly... can't quite put my finger on it - she actually seems to do better on a 2" board as opposed to our higher 4" roosts but once she makes it she's there overnight. Yours were from tsc - I'm wondering if it's the same hatchery. The two stubby ones are still less feathered on the tails one is darker but development is close. I'll update pics and am attaching latest. Good luck with yours! Please feel free to post updates

Updated pics

 

[Chickabidi]

Updated pics

That is promising news! She is still doing quite well, happily acting like she is no different than her friends! If my local store carries it, I may pick up the nutri-drench tomorrow- I am sure it will not hurt. May I ask, do you feed medicated or unmedicated? I have heard many opposing opinions and just want to give her the best possible start!