Chicks not growing fast enough??

[LikeTurkeys]

I have 6 chicks that are almost six weeks old. One is a Dominique x EE cross and the other 5 are BCM chicks. The cross is growing and feathering at what appears to be a normal rate (this is compared with my other 10 week old chicks when they were the same age). But the BCM's are small! They have free access to feed and water + a heat lamp during the night. They've been with the flock since 3 1/2 weeks old (with supplemental heat). Here is a pic of one of the BCM's and the DOM x EE cross together:

Look at the size comparison! And while the cross is already fully feathered, this quy still has down (and a lot of it too, for a 6 week old). Is this a characteristic of BCM chicks or am I doing something wrong? (Side note: the BCM's came from eggs that a friend gave me, not a hatchery).
Thanks!

 

[chickens really]

It looks okay to me? I'm not sure though?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How many BCMs do you have?
Are all of them about the same size as each other?

Sometimes it's hard, but comparing growth rate to other chicks can be misleading.
Weigh your chicks so you can determine how much weight they are gaining every few days. This lets you know they are growing.
Not sure about breed characteristics. If the chicks are eating/drinking well, active - then keep everything as is and see how it goes.

 

[casportpony]

Weigh your chicks so you can determine how much weight they are gaining every few days. This lets you know they are growing.

This is great advice! Get yourself a food scale and start weighing them as suggested.

Edited to add:
Oh, and here is a good article that @MysteryChicken found:
https://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2018/03/what-causes-runts.htmlIt's about ducks, but can be applied to chickens too.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

How many BCMs do you have?
Are all of them about the same size as each other?

Sometimes it's hard, but comparing growth rate to other chicks can be misleading.
Weigh your chicks so you can determine how much weight they are gaining every few days. This lets you know they are growing.
Not sure about breed characteristics. If the chicks are eating/drinking well, active - then keep everything as is and see how it goes.

I have 5 BCMs. Yes, they are all about the same size, which made me wonder if it was a breed characteristic (though I couldn't find anything like that online). Okay, I will see if I can weigh them! They actually feel relatively heavy to me, even heavier actually compared to the DOM x EE cross or my other chicks at 6 weeks, which is interesting because they don't look very big.

The chicks actually eat A LOT. I mean, almost all the time. The chickens have feed available through out the day and they are always in the bowl, which is also why I wondered that they didn't seem to be as big as the others.

This is great advice! Get yourself a food scale and start weighing them as suggested.

Edited to add:
Oh, and here is a good article that @MysteryChicken found:
https://metzerfarms.blogspot.com/2018/03/what-causes-runts.htmlIt's about ducks, but can be applied to chickens too.

Thanks, will do. So, is it possible that I should get some probiotics for them? Just in case they don't have enough of the good bacteria in their gut?

 

[casportpony]

I have 5 BCMs. Yes, they are all about the same size, which made me wonder if it was a breed characteristic (though I couldn't find anything like that online). Okay, I will see if I can weigh them! They actually feel relatively heavy to me, even heavier actually compared to the DOM x EE cross or my other chicks at 6 weeks, which is interesting because they don't look very big.

The chicks actually eat A LOT. I mean, almost all the time. The chickens have feed available through out the day and they are always in the bowl, which is also why I wondered that they didn't seem to be as big as the others.

Thanks, will do. So, is it possible that I should get some probiotics for them? Just in case they don't have enough of the good bacteria in their gut?

It certainly won't hurt them.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

I think my Tractor Supply has Sav-a-Chick probiotic, would that be a good choice? Also should I put it in the main flocks water or in a separate waterer for them?
Thanks.

 

[casportpony]

I think my Tractor Supply has Sav-a-Chick probiotic, would that be a good choice? Also should I put it in the main flocks water or in a separate waterer for them?
Thanks.

I think the Save a Chick would be good.

 

[casportpony]

This is good too:
https://www.amazon.com/Gro-2-max-Poultry-Probiotic-Supplement-17-5/dp/B00BILPIRK

 

[LikeTurkeys]

This is good too:
https://www.amazon.com/Gro-2-max-Poultry-Probiotic-Supplement-17-5/dp/B00BILPIRK

Hmm, that's kind of pricey. I'll look into it though, thanks.