Chick hatched looking weird

[AmericanMom]

Is he sick? Weak? Acting odd? Or is he like any other chick except he looks bald?

Went out this morning, hen still in nest with him, took him out, he is pretty scrawny but otherwise acting like a day old chick, .. I put a bit of food in front of her, she broke it up and called to him, he just went back under her so I will check again later.. I think had she had the other chicks she may very well have abandoned him, but because he is alone she may slow down a bit?

 

[Garjzla]

Went out this morning, hen still in nest with him, took him out, he is pretty scrawny but otherwise acting like a day old chick, .. I put a bit of food in front of her, she broke it up and called to him, he just went back under her so I will check again later.. I think had she had the other chicks she may very well have abandoned him, but because he is alone she may slow down a bit?

Probably. I think a silkie would do the best job for care, for they would raise even goslings or baby turkeys (I have no turkey knowlege so I don't know what a baby turkey's called) so it seems like they wouldn't give up on a chick just because it looks weird.

 

[AmericanMom]

Probably. I think a silkie would do the best job for care, for they would raise even goslings or baby turkeys (I have no turkey knowlege so I don't know what a baby turkey's called) so it seems like they wouldn't give up on a chick just because it looks weird.

I don't think she would abandon him for looking weird, more for not being able to keep up

 

[Garjzla]

I don't think she would abandon him for looking weird, more for not being able to keep up

I've heard that birds do that. Though chickens ARE different.

 

[lightchick]

What does he look like now?

 

[AmericanMom]

What does he look like now?

I put the bittie down this morning.. It wasn't growing, although it was eating and drinking it was not as active as normal chicks and I was afraid every day it lived was another day it might suffer.. When I say it hadn't grown I mean that, it looked as scrawny as the day it hatched, It looked small than a newly hatched chick just hours old. I have chicks that have hatched this morning that are already bigger than that one, that is what prompted my decision.. Went out this afternoon to check on the hen and she is out with the others not clucking or frantically looking for her chick.

Its part of life doing what we do, although its never easy nor taken lightly I will do what must be done.