Day old chick - Leg Weakness

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Not going to lie, but I am pretty concerned for her health and survival at this point. We are all about ten days and the difference in growth between the chicks, and overall condition, is marked.

Her sister, Marshmallow:

Peep:

Spoiler

She is bouncing around the brooder, and she doesn't seem to be getting picked on, but she also sits down a lot and is always taking the warmest spot under the light when they are all piled up resting. She's boney and frail when I hold her, I can feel her whole spine poking out, and her feathers barely cover her skin. (Nevermind the peach fuzz is all smeared down into her poor face from the vitamin E caps. )

I'm so sad for her, but I don't know what else I can do. My heart is telling me there's no amount of vitamins that are going to fix whatever is wrong with her.

I ordered some really high quality (I think!) chick starter, so they'll all go onto that when it comes in. I brooded my other chicks on it last year, and they all grew out so healthy and beautiful! They are just on all flock and oyster shells now, but anyway I want to try to give these girls a bit of a boost to start. Time will tell...

 

[LhickenChicken]

Not going to lie, but I am pretty concerned for her health and survival at this point. We are all about ten days and the difference in growth between the chicks, and overall condition, is marked.

Her sister, Marshmallow:
View attachment 3486762View attachment 3486763

Peep:

Spoiler

View attachment 3486761
She is bouncing around the brooder, and she doesn't seem to be getting picked on, but she also sits down a lot and is always taking the warmest spot under the light when they are all piled up resting. She's boney and frail when I hold her, I can feel her whole spike poking out, and her feathers barely cover her skin. (Nevermind the peach fuzz is all smeared down into her poor face from the vitamin E caps. )

I'm so sad for her, but I don't know what else I can do. My heart is telling me there's no amount of vitamins that are going to fix whatever is wrong with her.

I ordered some really high quality (I think!) chick starter, so they'll all go onto that when it comes in. I brooded my other chicks on it last year, and they all grew out so healthy and beautiful! They are just on all flock and oyster shells now, but anyway I want to try to give these girls a bit of a boost to start. Time will tell...

I had a chick like that. She was called Coco. I think this could be a "failure to thrive" chick, but I would still try. I really don't have any advice for you, I had several chicks with slipped tendon, but I never was able to save any of them.

Good fortune for her!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You're doing the best you can.

 

[MamaFox78]

Not going to lie, but I am pretty concerned for her health and survival at this point. We are all about ten days and the difference in growth between the chicks, and overall condition, is marked.

Her sister, Marshmallow:
View attachment 3486762View attachment 3486763

Peep:

Spoiler

View attachment 3486761
She is bouncing around the brooder, and she doesn't seem to be getting picked on, but she also sits down a lot and is always taking the warmest spot under the light when they are all piled up resting. She's boney and frail when I hold her, I can feel her whole spine poking out, and her feathers barely cover her skin. (Nevermind the peach fuzz is all smeared down into her poor face from the vitamin E caps. )

I'm so sad for her, but I don't know what else I can do. My heart is telling me there's no amount of vitamins that are going to fix whatever is wrong with her.

I ordered some really high quality (I think!) chick starter, so they'll all go onto that when it comes in. I brooded my other chicks on it last year, and they all grew out so healthy and beautiful! They are just on all flock and oyster shells now, but anyway I want to try to give these girls a bit of a boost to start. Time will tell...

Aww little Peep... the chick starter might help, to my knowledge all flock generally is better for birds who have finished growing. Definitely keep trying, you're doing a great job!!❤

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Aww little Peep... the chick starter might help, to my knowledge all flock generally is better for birds who have finished growing. Definitely keep trying, you're doing a great job!!❤

I didn't compare labels, but I know they are both pretty high in protein at least, which I think is the main thing, it's 20% vs. 16%. But anyway they have been on an organic starter crumble from TSC so far. Just hoping the $10 bag lasts till the new stuff arrives. I definitely appreciate the encouragement. It feels pretty thankless right now. I would just love to see her feathers start to come in a little nicer.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Aww little Peep... the chick starter might help, to my knowledge all flock generally is better for birds who have finished growing. Definitely keep trying, you're doing a great job!!❤

All Flock is for "all flock" that means from hatch throughout life for chicks, ducks, etc. When I have chicks in a mixed flock of birds I feed an All Flock since both chicks and adults alike can eat it.

You may be thinking of "Finisher" which can be given to meat birds to finish growing out broilers.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

All Flock is for "all flock" that means from hatch throughout life for chicks, ducks, etc. When I have chicks in a mixed flock of birds I feed an All Flock since both chicks and adults alike can eat it.

You may be thinking of "Finisher" which can be given to meat birds to finish growing out broilers.

Yeah, we picked up a little crumble because mostly I didn't want the daily shoulder workout of grinding up the larger pellets for the babies lol. I think it might actually say pellet on it, but the pieces are teensy compared to the all flock pellets.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

All Flock can come in crumbles or pellet form, but for tiny babies even the crumbles can be a bit large. I have a cheap food processor for grinding up feed for babies.

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

All Flock can come in crumbles or pellet form, but for tiny babies even the crumbles can be a bit large. I have a cheap food processor for grinding up feed for babies.

That is a great idea; I was thinking about that, too. I don't really have a "spare" one, but I wondered if she might eat a little more if I ground some up really fine, or tried offering some mash. There's virtually no fat on her bones.

 

[MamaFox78]

All Flock is for "all flock" that means from hatch throughout life for chicks, ducks, etc. When I have chicks in a mixed flock of birds I feed an All Flock since both chicks and adults alike can eat it.

You may be thinking of "Finisher" which can be given to meat birds to finish growing out broilers.

Ahh ok, good to know!! That makes sense. The ranch supply stores in my area only sell All Flock in pellets, I've never seen the crumbles so I presumed it was for older birds.

I personally haven't fed it to my flock very often, as I prefer to use organic feed and I haven't found an organic version of all flock, so I guess I don't know much about it.