Failure to Thrive.. but wings and legs grow?

[jwebs94]

Anyone ever have this?
The puffball on the left is a brand new EE chick... the awkward little muppet on the right is Pixie. She's a 4 week old California White. Her wings and legs grew, and now her tail. The feathers she grew are not healthy, spotty and thin. Her legs grew some but so out of proportion to her tiny body that she has trouble walking. I'm not expecting her to live, but frankly have no idea how she's still alive. Her hatch mates are already living outside and are big and doing well. I got the new chick today to keep her company a while longer. I'm just wondering if any of you have experienced this and how long did the chick live? She eats drinks and poops --just very little.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

Wow,sorry hun this is a first for me...following and I'll try to do some research

 

[dotporter]

try giving her vitamin e. That might be a deficiency.

 

[Flockandfowl46]

This is what I found super long but worth the read. Hope it helps
https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/9

 

[jwebs94]

I've been giving her Nutri-drench and electrolytes (the Save-a-chick) brand. I'm assuming she has some sort of metabolic disorder and she's just not assimilating nutriets as she should.

 

[dotporter]

Ok, technically, vitamins D, E, and manganese all might help. But, looks like vitamin E to me. I'd also lower protein intake. Tape the wings up in the correct position against the back. And give the baby some time. It might still make it.

 

[jwebs94]

I was thinking about clipping her wings to get all those long feathers out of the way. I could still wrap her up with some vet tape.

 

[dotporter]

This is what I found super long but worth the read. Hope it helps
https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/9

good article. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite touch on the less severe deficiency profile. nutri drench doesn't have a lot of vitamin e. Or manganese.

What the chicken is exhibiting is a severe form of angel wing and depressed growth.

... First thought? Rancid fats could cause this. So, old feed or feed allowed to sit too long before changing.... Not necessarily. Sometimes it's just genetic.

It's hard to tell. But, I'd still supplement.

 

[jwebs94]

This is what I found super long but worth the read. Hope it helps
https://www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/9

That's a great link. Thank you.

 

[jwebs94]

good article. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite touch on the less severe deficiency profile. nutri drench doesn't have a lot of vitamin e. Or manganese.

What the chicken is exhibiting is a severe form of angel wing and depressed growth.

... First thought? Rancid fats could cause this. So, old feed or feed allowed to sit too long before changing.... Not necessarily. Sometimes it's just genetic.

It's hard to tell. But, I'd still supplement.

They go through the feed fast here because at first, she had 23 other brooder mates. I buy organic feed. What supplement do you recommend, Nutri-drench was the only one I found at our local store. Is there a special chicken formula out there somewhere, or can I buy any Vit E and Manganese to give her?