Failure to Thrive.. but wings and legs grow?

[jwebs94]

And I don't think she really has true angel wing. It's just that they look odd against her small body. They do tuck up naturally to her sides when she's sitting. This photo was a screen grab from a video.

 

[jwebs94]

Maybe this? https://www.amazon.com/Rooster-Booster-Poultry-1-25-Pound/dp/B00ISTDKLQ

I found their Poultry Cell version too and that is a liquid. Might be easier to give her that one.

 

[dotporter]

Maybe this? https://www.amazon.com/Rooster-Booster-Poultry-1-25-Pound/dp/B00ISTDKLQ

I found their Poultry Cell version too and that is a liquid. Might be easier to give her that one.

I could be wrong. I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an expert.

What you linked doesn't have an ingredient list, but if it says complete it should be. And, I'm not saying it is the cure. Just that, it LOOKS like...

http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/content/vitamin-e-and-selenium-deficiency
Some turkeys have exhibited abnormal and enlarged hocks... might be in chickens too? I don't know. Slow growth, normal feathers compared to body growth, abnormal legs. Does your chick have any edema under the beak or in the abdomen?

There are some conditions that prevent the absorption of vitamins.

I just prefer to err on the side of hope and go for it.

(edit: see, I thought it was manganese, and it's selenium. I'm not an expert.)

 

[KikiLeigh02]

@EggSighted4Life

 

[EggSighted4Life]

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.

Hi there.

Sorry this babe isn't doing so well.

Chickens don't get angel wing as far as I know.

How long have you been supplementing the nutri drench and electrolytes? Nothing should be supplemented for more than 10 days. While many nutrients cannot be overdosed... fat soluble ones like E *can*... electrolytes getting off balance can also be very harmful, potassium can be deadly... If she isn't just shipped and dehydrated, got diarrhea... I would stop the electrolytes. MAYBE offer yogurt, a little fermented feed or some other form of probiotics.

What are you feeding including treats? I actually like nutri drench as it has important amino acids. Not sure about rooster booster, some products seem good but I know at least one has an antibiotic in it and I'm not down with that.

You already bought her a chick friend... so now she needs to live long enough to keep that chick company... she SHOULD be picking on it and setting the pecking order... meaning you are correct to be concerned.

It's true, I try to give everyone a chance to thrive... but since I breed I cannot have that kind of weakness in my flock... they will always be a target for parasites, disease, and predators... and it's genetic IMHO. I would (in theory) cull... which if I knew was female... might mean just giving to another home, with disclosure that she seems a bit behind. After hatching hundreds of chicks... once in a while... these things happen, not all can get the good genetics. I personally would NOT tape the wings... I worry about causing a worse issue.

Did they have to be treated for Coccidiosis at all? If so, maybe her intestines were more compromised than others, leading to necrosis and ultimately lack of absorption. That is not what I truly suspect according to information given already. If there is NO reason for a bird to have a deficiency... like excessive treats, bullying away from the feed, or coccidiosis issues... I will NOT support those who can't thrive with standard good nutrition (formulated age appropriate ration) and conditions... I know it sounds harsh... but for me I have MANY lives to think about not just one. And what effect one effects my whole flock AND me.

Hope she enjoys her new friend and starts to thrive!

 

[jwebs94]

I've been careful with the supplements, rotaing with plain water. So I don't think I've OD'd her. No treats. Just the organic grower/starter at Tractor Supply in the Orange bag --I can never remember the brand name.
She's not picking on the new chick at all. I actually feel bad for getting her a friend now, because the new chick seems lost as to what to do with Pixie. So now I have two problems. SMH. Newbie mistake. Leave it to my 13 year old to point it out to me, "She's not going to be well socialized and might have a hard time when we introduce her to the flock." The new chick goes over to Pixie and nudges her at times to try to get her to respond, but they do cuddle up and hang out for now, and Pixie does seem to try harder at eating and drinking and trying to be awake for the new chick. Almost like the new chick has given her a little spunk.
Never treated for Coccidiosis. There were 7 total California Whites that we got, the other 6 all grew fine. She wasn't bullied away from the food either. I was truly surprised at how well the others treated her. No one picked on her. They gave her space to eat. I only had to separate them at around 3 weeks just because they were too big and would accidently knock her around when the bigger ones were being active.
I'm thinking it's genetic for sure. Guessing a metabolic/mitochondrial issue.
And I've been leaning toward culling as well. Once the new little is big enough to move outside, if Pixie still hasn't grown I think it will be time to do it. It's not much of a life.

 

[LittleCheepers]

Poor Pixie, the sweet little thing! I am so sorry she isn’t doing well. But she is very lucky to have someone like you to care for her. And what a nice little chick friend you found to keep her company! That was very kind of you. I will pray for her, and for you as you make decisions about her care. Please keep us updated as to how she is doing.

 

[jwebs94]

I will keep everyone updated The new chick is kinda doing the trick to get her more active. Before I got her a friend she just sat in the corner all day, barely waking up.

 

[NewPoultryMom2019]

I will keep everyone updated The new chick is kinda doing the trick to get her more active. Before I got her a friend she just sat in the corner all day, barely waking up.

So I just stumbled across this post, and started reading it.
I hope you don't mind me asking but, is there any update on Pixie?

 

[jwebs94]

So I just stumbled across this post, and started reading it.
I hope you don't mind me asking but, is there any update on Pixie?

She did end up dying She never did get much bigger but some of her feathers grew. She had crazy looking wings on her tiny body. She went pretty quick. One minute I was looking at her int he brooder because she was acting funny, the next minute she was dead.
I don't remember exactly what age. In my head I have 2.5 months. It was at least two months --a month after I last posted here. And the little chick friend I got her ended up being my favorite of all my birds. Rexy. When Pixie died I tried moving Rexy out into the middle of the hen pen with my other "Littles". She was in a dog crate. It did not go well. She got close to the edge and the other hens tried attacking her thru the crate... tore out feathers. It was awful. So I brought Rexy back inside for another week or so to heal and get bigger. Long story short... All these months later, Rexy was making a play for top hen! But... Rexy has a habit of roosting on the ground and ended up being my only bird over winter who got bad frost bite on her feet. She lost the ends of most of her toes. --It's been dramatic around here! She's fine. Hops around just fine, roosts on the top bar in the coop. She's definitely the Queen of my Guineas and she's still trying to make a play for top hen even though her injury took her down a peg in the pecking order for a while. They were all so mean to her at first, I love that she's acting like the Boss out there!

ETA: If I didn't have a crazy dog inside I would have kept Rexy as an inside chicken. lol I swore not to make my chickens "pets" but she got spoiled because I felt awful for buying just one chick. She'd sit on my bed with me and we'd watch TV. She actually feathered out to look identical to Delta --who is the hen in my profile pic.