Golden Polish Chick help!

[shelbear81]

Hey everyone, I have a question about my golden polish chick. She will be 2 weeks on Monday, and she is awfully small (still about the size she was when we got her). When we received the order in the mail from McMurray there was only 4 out of 26 that was still alive, and she was the weakest of those four. She is doing good now, eating drinking, playing... all the things a 2 week chick should do but she is awfully small and her wings have outgrown her, I was wondering if she got stunted from being so close to death or if it is the way of the breed. She also falls asleep at the drop of a hat and standing up. We named her Chance the narcoleptic chicken. If anyone can help I would appreciate it!! I have become attached which I know is never a good idea but I couldn't help pulling for her when i was nursing her back to health!

 

[sumi]

Give her extra vitamins in her water, fresh greens like spinach and scrambled egg and mealworms for a protein boost. I had a stunted chick who had the top of her beak broken. It healed, but she fell behind in the growth department. Since I've started boosting her with the vitamins and extra high protein treats she gained weight and is doing very well.

 

[GreyhoundGrrrl]

For what it is worth my Silver Laced Polish LOVES to sit on a perch and sleep ALL. THE. TIME. He is now 5 weeks old. He was my neediest the day I got him. If I wasn't holding him he would cry loudly, that "I'm alone! Where are all the other chickens???" cry. I had to cup him in my hand and press him gently against my cheek because I brought him to work the first 2 days I had him and no one was enjoying his constant crying. I got better at typing with one hand over those two days, LOL!

With My Barred Rocks and Buff Orpingtons I would leave for work in the morning and they would be one size and I would notice a difference, they were bigger(!), when I got home every day. Same at night I'd go to bed and by morning they seemed bigger. My Silver Laced Polish and Cochin Bantams on the other hand, it seems like they NEVER grow! I raised them with 3 EE's that are two weeks older than them and they size difference is REALLY significant. I know 2 weeks is a big difference in age when you are talking about chicks and I know all of these birds will end of being different sizes but I feel like my most recent batch is barely even growing!

Maybe you little bird has a different situation than mine, maybe her growth is stunted but I thought I would share my thoughts on my babies too, it sounds like they are similarly slow to grow. Mine all seem happy and healthy so hopefully your baby is too!

Do you have a photo you can post? That might help see where she is growth wise.

 

[shelbear81]

Thank you so much, it is such a relief that others had the same issues. I will def work on getting her some more protein and vitamins and I will have to post a pic of her this weekend... she is a beautiful little thing but then again I am biased

 

[shelbear81]

Hey thanks everyone! The mealworms and spinach worked like a charm. She is now growing like a weed and feathering beautifully!! BYCers are the best!!

 

[sumi]

Where's the pic?

 

[shelbear81]

My cam is not working, I will work on that this weekend... I will get pics of all the new babes tomorrow!!

 

[shelbear81]

Ok everyone!! I have some picture updates... I am so sorry it too so long! It sucks when you have to rely on someone else to help you out!!
So here she is at 3 weeks old... she is actually 4 weeks now, but like I said, it sucks to rely on someone else!!


Here she is in a the brooder with the rest of her mates. Ignore the black silkie... the others are either her age or younger, and she is smaller than all of them.



Here is a Pic of her wing feathers. She has since started to get head pins and looks like she is sporting a Joe Dirt mullet...



Chance seems to be doing pretty good. She is growing, just not as fast as the rest, and her feathers are coming in nicely. She is definately smaller, and has a noticable limp, but, other than that she is good!!

 

[prizma]

Awww she's so sweet!
I had gotten a white crested black polish chick 5 weeks ago in my batch of chicks that was the runt of the group. She was quite a bit smaller than all the other chicks and didn't seem to be growing as fast as them. She's still the smallest, but is growing and doing very well. So I think as long as yours is growing and doing well, then she'll be fine! She's a beauty!!

 

[shelbear81]

Awww she's so sweet!
I had gotten a white crested black polish chick 5 weeks ago in my batch of chicks that was the runt of the group. She was quite a bit smaller than all the other chicks and didn't seem to be growing as fast as them. She's still the smallest, but is growing and doing very well. So I think as long as yours is growing and doing well, then she'll be fine! She's a beauty!!

Thank You!! I just love her to death! She is so sweet, she falls asleep in my hands, especially if I rub her beak!! lol