Failure to Thrive?

[Ol' Biddy]

One of my baby chicks is not growing. She is 1/3 the size of the other one of the same age which is one month. I don't think she has grown at all. What could be the reason and is there any help for her? I have spent hours searching on the internet..no luck!

 

[chickenlittleton]

When I got my first set of 12, I noticed one that was especially noisy and small. I took a closer look and discovered her eyes seemed closed. As though she couldn't find her food. She wasn't growing with the others. I kept a keen eye on her, began feeding the babes softened chick start with a little yogurt (hoping to get her to eat a little more) and even tried isolating her which made her peeping even more persistent. She made it, and today I can't tell her from the others who were 3 times the size she was. Her eyes were fully opened after another week or two. Either she was way younger than her siblings, or just a runt. I don't know what else to suggest, these are my first young ones. Good- Luck and keep us posted!

 

[emvickrey]

This site is normally fantastic at helping us out. I have learned alot. There was another post similar to yours. I suggested on that thread to give it poly-vi-sol for kids or put electrolites in its water. It may boost it up with the vitamins. Maybe try scrambled eggs too.

I hatched out a blind chick a couple of batches ago. Nothing I did would get it to eat. It didn't make it and I suppose sit wasn't suppose to. Things just happen and its out of our control. All we can do is try. I do hope your little chickie makes it. It seems it's the ones we give special attention to are the ones we get more attatched to. I have one that is a couple months old in the house being pampered right now. She got the skin torm from her neck and I have been keeping her isolated and her wound gets cared for everyday along with pen changes several times a day. One chicken sure can stink up the place lol

Anyway, I do hope it all works out for you and your chick.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I also have a couple that are not growing as they should. I noticed that they were hanging back from the feeder when the others crowded around. I think they are the lowest on the pecking order and don't eat as much. I thought I had enough feeder room for them to all eat at the same time, but these two were not joining the mob. I increased the feeder capacity by adding an additional feeder. They are growing but have not caught up with the others. You might try additional feeding stations to see if that helps.

I don't know if it is genetic, either internally inefficient use of food or a personality that will not compete for food, but when I select my breeding flock, these two will not be in it. My goal is meat and eggs. If your goals are different, your runt may fit right in. I've seen posts where the runt stayed small its entire life but was a good egg layer.

Good Luck!

 

[chickachickadoo]

I've had 1 teeny chick who hasn't grown since she was maybe 1 week old or less. Of course I had grown attached to her and was pulling for her to survive. In the past week she had gone downhill and yesterday she died. I guess it's nature's way.

ETA: The chicks are 4 weeks old now.

 

[Ol' Biddy]

Thank you everyone! The peeping was so loud that I finally put a heating pad in a shoe box and put her in it, inside the cage with her big buddy. It seems to be helping. I got some yogurt to mix with the chick starter and they seem to like it. I have a feeling she isn't going to make it though. She is 5 weeks old and still fuzzy like a peach! If she was a runt I think she would be small but with feathers. She seems to be suffering so I may finally decide to put her out of her misery.