DesertBird
Songster
I recently posted a thread about my runt chick, who seemed to be a tad weaker and smaller than the others. As it grows up, I'm noticing it's very different. It was sexed as female, but since it's still young, I'm not sure. I don't know if it'll help, but it's an Australorp. I've had it and it's siblings for about 10 days, and TSC said they were 4-5 days old when I got them.
The poor thing constantly peeps, tries to hide under the other chicks, seems to get cold easily (it's over 100 here and if it drops below 90 I turn on the heat lamp and none of them go under it, but I still keep it on - they're outside in a grow-out pen with an attached mini-coop already), and the poor things' legs seem weaker than the others? I'm not sure how to explain it. It seems to get around okay, when it wants to move or is following it's siblings (it's very dependent on them, follows at least one of them constantly, always tries to get under it when it stops, doesn't like being picked up alone, etc.) but when I pick it up, it's legs just seem fragile compared to the other chicks'. It also doesn't seem interested in using it's toes occasionally. I saw one of it's little poops the other day, too, and it was a paler color than the other chicks', but I haven't personally seen it poop today. I feed them 20% unmedicated Chick Starter from the DUMor brand. All of the others are okay, already starting to fly, very active, etc. but this one little one worries me. Any time the bedding is wet or particularly poopy, I spot clean, and I'm planning on fully cleaning it about once a month? In the old tub, I cleaned it fully three times (they were in it for about 7-8 days) and spot cleaned it 2-3 times a day. It did rain horribly last night, but they all made it, and despite being a bit cold, they all seem fine. No sneezing outside of the norm. Another thing with the runt/sick chick is one of it's nostrils seemed a bit clogged up, but that may have just been from getting to the mash/wet food (I left it out in the rain, silly me) - it seemed clearer when I checked about 15 minutes ago. If it happens again, is it safe to use a Q-tip gently to try to clean the nostril? It's so tiny and I don't want to hurt it.
Is this a disease, sickness, etc.? Has anyone had experience with chick's like this? If so, did they make it? Are there any vitamins or supplements I can give to all of the chicks (in their water or food) that might help it out?
The poor thing constantly peeps, tries to hide under the other chicks, seems to get cold easily (it's over 100 here and if it drops below 90 I turn on the heat lamp and none of them go under it, but I still keep it on - they're outside in a grow-out pen with an attached mini-coop already), and the poor things' legs seem weaker than the others? I'm not sure how to explain it. It seems to get around okay, when it wants to move or is following it's siblings (it's very dependent on them, follows at least one of them constantly, always tries to get under it when it stops, doesn't like being picked up alone, etc.) but when I pick it up, it's legs just seem fragile compared to the other chicks'. It also doesn't seem interested in using it's toes occasionally. I saw one of it's little poops the other day, too, and it was a paler color than the other chicks', but I haven't personally seen it poop today. I feed them 20% unmedicated Chick Starter from the DUMor brand. All of the others are okay, already starting to fly, very active, etc. but this one little one worries me. Any time the bedding is wet or particularly poopy, I spot clean, and I'm planning on fully cleaning it about once a month? In the old tub, I cleaned it fully three times (they were in it for about 7-8 days) and spot cleaned it 2-3 times a day. It did rain horribly last night, but they all made it, and despite being a bit cold, they all seem fine. No sneezing outside of the norm. Another thing with the runt/sick chick is one of it's nostrils seemed a bit clogged up, but that may have just been from getting to the mash/wet food (I left it out in the rain, silly me) - it seemed clearer when I checked about 15 minutes ago. If it happens again, is it safe to use a Q-tip gently to try to clean the nostril? It's so tiny and I don't want to hurt it.
Is this a disease, sickness, etc.? Has anyone had experience with chick's like this? If so, did they make it? Are there any vitamins or supplements I can give to all of the chicks (in their water or food) that might help it out?
I'll try to get some today. Another thing - her stomach seems squishy? I don't know if that's the right word. lol I was picking her up yesterday to move her because she couldn't figure out her way out of a box (it was on it's side, too 
) and noticed her stomach felt squishier than the others, who seemed to have more firm stomachs.
I'll have the images posted as soon as they transfer to my computer. 
Her legs seem stronger than the did when I last posted, but she still doesn't use them much.
