Day one on arrival from hatchery

[Hens14]

My daughter received 41 three day-old pullets from a hatchery. From the first day she received them, one pullet, a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte, was much smaller than the rest and seemed slow or "off". She didn't have much balance and wasn't feathering out very much. I took her because the others tended to step on her and she was so much smaller. Her neck had a lump on it, I have never seen a lump on the side of the neck, but because it would get huge after she ate, I figured it was her crop. It doesn't do it now. She is now 9 weeks, small, and is still not totally feathered out. She has a good appetite and drinks water. She is a little off balance standing, walks in circles to the right, and lays down the majority of time. I am wondering if it could be Mereks, and she is recovering, or a defect she was born with. I have her isolated from my hens. All opinions welcomed.

 

[Mellowmalt]

none of the birds it has been in contact with has died and it was showing an abnormal throat condition early on so my money is on a defect she was born with. This means she hasn't been developing at the rate she should have been and this can have an impact on how their organs develop. I can't comment on future prospects as I have too little experience with chicks born with defects. She might catch up, maybe she never will.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds more like a neurological symptom, similar to wry neck where they can have a twisted neck, walking in circles or backward. Some treat with vitamins including E and thiamine (B1.) Some chicks are born with failure to thrive or runts, and early issues from hatch may keep them from ever achieving a normal weight. I would try the vitamins for a few weeks to see if they help. Mareks disease can show up as early as 5 weeks, but more commonly causes symptoms after a few months. I hope that your pullet gets better.

 

[Hens14]

It sounds more like a neurological symptom, similar to wry neck where they can have a twisted neck, walking in circles or backward. Some treat with vitamins including E and thiamine (B1.) Some chicks are born with failure to thrive or runts, and early issues from hatch may keep them from ever achieving a normal weight. I would try the vitamins for a few weeks to see if they help. Mareks disease can show up as early as 5 weeks, but more commonly causes symptoms after a few months. I hope that your pullet gets better.

Thank you! I am following your advice and trying the vitamins.

 

[Hens14]

none of the birds it has been in contact with has died and it was showing an abnormal throat condition early on so my money is on a defect she was born with. This means she hasn't been developing at the rate she should have been and this can have an impact on how their organs develop. I can't comment on future prospects as I have too little experience with chicks born with defects. She might catch up, maybe she never will.

Thank you! I am also thinking it may be a defect she was born with. I am trying vitamins to rule out a deficiency.