CHICK IS BREATHING HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wyorp Rock]

She is halve the size of her brothers and sisters. They all hatched the same day. I will check the temp.

She may be failing to thrive if she's that much smaller than her siblings
Sometimes the best you can do is encourage them to eat/drink. I would give her 2-3 drops of Poultry Nutri-Drench twice a day as well to see if that gives her a boost.

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

She may be failing to thrive if she's that much smaller than her siblings
Sometimes the best you can do is encourage them to eat/drink. I would give her 2-3 drops of Poultry Nutri-Drench twice a day as well to see if that gives her a boost.

She drinks and eats plenty. I will get some Nutri-Drench as soon as possibly. Not many farm store are open on Easters I will try to get some tomarrow.

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

Her wings are so neat.

 

[AprilsZoo]

I don’t think her being smaller is failure-to-thrive. Correct me if I’m wrong Whisperer, but this chick has always been itsy-bitsy, right from hatch? So unless they can be failure-to-thrive while still in the egg (and they can’t as far as I know), but still hatch properly & on time, then I don’t think that’s an issue here.

Whisperer, can you take her & a buddy or two out of the brooder for a bit, and temporarily put them in a different box or tub or whatnot? Choose a couple of buddies that tend to stay on the cool side of the brooder. Include a little food and water just like it’s their new home (they won’t really live there for long though.) You want to see how they act if they don’t have a heat lamp. Will they run around happily? Or will they huddle?
I think this will help you sort out whether she is panting because of overheating, or if it’s a lung issue (pneumonia?).

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

I don’t think her being smaller is failure-to-thrive. Correct me if I’m wrong Whisperer, but this chick has always been itsy-bitsy, right from hatch? So unless they can be failure-to-thrive while still in the egg (and they can’t as far as I know), but still hatch properly & on time, then I don’t think that’s an issue here.

Whisperer, can you take her & a buddy or two out of the brooder for a bit, and temporarily put them in a different box or tub or whatnot? Choose a couple of buddies that tend to stay on the cool side of the brooder. Include a little food and water just like it’s their new home (they won’t really live there for long though.) You want to see how they act if they don’t have a heat lamp. Will they run around happily? Or will they huddle?
I think this will help you sort out whether she is panting because of overheating, or if it’s a lung issue (pneumonia?).

When she hatched she was the same size as the others. But then they grew and she didn't even the runt outgrew her in a day or two. They will be two weeks old tuesday. I hope she don't have pneumonia I've had it 3 times and it wasn't good. I really do think its an internal problem.

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

She is breathing fine now!!! Still she hasn't grown.

 

[AprilsZoo]

When she hatched she was the same size as the others. But then they grew and she didn't even the runt outgrew her in a day or two. They will be two weeks old tuesday. I hope she don't have pneumonia I've had it 3 times and it wasn't good. I really do think its an internal problem.

Well, there— I stand corrected.

Ok, I think I’m remembering more now.... this chick had a weird leg problem and got put in a cup for a few days until she began flinging herself free, right? So during those early days she didn’t have free access to food & water; you were giving food/water at intervals (I can’t recall the timing, but she wasn’t getting to the food herself... I think that may have accounted for the slow growth at the very beginning. At only 2 weeks old, if she’s had pneumonia for any of that time (which is still debatable) that will have certainly continued to stunt her growth.

I have no proof, & cannot cite any specific sources, but I believe from my own reading & experience that poultry are particularly sensitive to early nutrient deficits. I cannot recall any instances where the stunted chick suddenly catches up later, even after they have appropriate calorie & nutrient intake. I suppose that meets the definition of failure-to-thrive — although not all of them fail to the point of dying. There are plenty of examples around here of chicks that had to fight to make it out of the brooder, who still go on to be productive hens. (Rooster examples are less common, but that could be due to the number of males who go to freezer camp as cockerels.)

Could she have something wrong inside? Possibly. Until someone genetically engineers a see-through chicken, it’ll always be a question with the wonky ones. It’s so hard to know when they go past the point of wonky over to unsalvageable. I’m a big softy, but I understand that most people won’t attach emotional import to their chickens. After all, that’s why so few vets will bother to treat one.

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

Ok, I think I’m remembering more now.... this chick had a weird leg problem and got put in a cup for a few days until she began flinging herself free, right?

Yes she got strong and jumps right out.

So during those early days she didn’t have free access to food & water; you were giving food/water at intervals (I can’t recall the timing, but she wasn’t getting to the food herself

I fed/watered her every hour. Sometimes she didn't want food or water when I fed her. I also gave her cooked egg yolk.

I think that may have accounted for the slow growth at the very beginning. At only 2 weeks old, if she’s had pneumonia for any of that time (which is still debatable) that will have certainly continued to stunt her growth.

Very true.

I’m a big softy, but I understand that most people won’t attach emotional import to their chickens

I was never attached to chickens until they started jumping on my arm when I hold it out. When I fed Sock she would always crawl under my hand.

After all, that’s why so few vets will bother to treat one.

That's sadly true. I hope one day to become a vet that specializes in poultry.

 

[AprilsZoo]

I hope one day to become a vet that specializes in poultry.

Awesome!
I think if you do, you’ll have plenty of grateful bird owners coming to see you.

 

[THEChIcKeNwhisperer354]

She is starting to grow!!!