Chick Not Growing

[swinfield89]

Hi, all,

I have a chick who was purchased with three others. The rest are all growing and healthy but she looks the same as the day I bought her. She seemed sick and listless with blood in her stool, so I treated her and the rest for cocci.

The treatment is done and she has new energy, is eating and drinking well. But she still pastes up almost daily and cries while pooping. There is blood and possibly scabbing on her vent, but I think it's because she's worrying it with her beak (I've seen her doing it).

1) Are there other possibilities of what could be wrong with her? Does she just need time? What can I do?

2) In the meantime, do I keep treating her like the age she looks? She gets cold much faster than the others, and while they're probably ready for occasional mealworms and treats, I don't know if she is. She hasn't aged a day and they all have tail and saddle feathers and are huge in comparison. The other chicks don't peck at or bully her, thankfully, but they're just on completely different developmental levels. How do I meet their needs and hers simultaneously?

 

[Eggcessive]

She is probably constipated from not drinking enough water, and possibly from some lingering shipping stress. I would feed her some chilled coconut oil chips or give a little mineral or olive oil orally. Do this daily until she is pooping normally. Chick vitamins or Poultry NutriDrench would be good to give for awhile to her. Try wetting some chick feed with a lot of water—just make a small amount at a time, and get her eating. Do you have a warm area and a cooler spot in your brooder? She probably still needs it warm, but too much heat can cause more constipation.

 

[swinfield89]

The brooder does have a warm side and cool side, at least I did that right! Thanks for the ideas on how to get her bowels moving easier. I'll try them!