chick wouldn't grow

[Minniechickmama]

I hatched out a batch of chicks about 10 days ago, Silkies, LF Brahmas, and some crossbreeds from my own flock. I had one little Black Silkie that was the tiniest chick I have ever had. The strange thing, it never grew AT ALL! I finally put it down tonight because it wasn't very active, I never saw it eat, it really only seemed to drink when I made it drink. It was about 1/4 of the other Silkies that hatched with it. Any thoughts on this folks?

 

[Smittenroade]

Seems like some are just too fragile for this harsh life...

 

[BrattishTaz]

It is called "failure to thrive". It happens. Poor chickie.

 

[Minniechickmama]

Quote:
Kind of what I thought it was considered. I raise Mini Rex rabbits and since they are a dwarf breed, sometimes we get what we call "peanuts" that get a double dwarf gene that causes all sorts of problems and they usually don't live more than a few days. They do not thrive because of a metabollic disruption. It is always sad to see them in a litter. This is the first Silkie I have had like this, so I was a little thrown, but it seemed like the same deal is the peanuts.