Growth rates, feathering, poop....newbie questions!

[anniem]

After 10 days of chicks I'm noticing more and more differences and would like feed back about if it sounds normal.
First off, we have 6 chicks--2 ameracauna/EE's, 2 red sex-linked, 2 black sex-linked (1 is black and 1 is dark brown).

They EE's were slightly bigger when we got them but they are growing at a much faster rate than the others, does that sound typical?
The BSLs are definately smaller than the others and their feathering is the slowest--but they seem to be going the same rate as eachother. And I wonder about them also because i'm concerned about their poop. It's a bit looser, more brown than green, and no white in it. Does this sound like chick diarrhea? They don't have pasty butt (although one of the EE's does...)
I'm using organic feed and haven't gone for medicating because they are eating/drinking/running around like chickens. Does it sound like something to take care of now or wait and see if their is behavior change? Oh, and I noticed it on day2, not much change for better or worse and doesn't seem to be spreading to the others.

Thanks!
Ann

 

[Daisygirl]

I think growth rates vary from breed to breed...
there is a sight for normal poop pictures somewhere on here...but I would have thought it changes depending on what you feed them

 

[Tala]

Loose brown poop is pretty normal in my experience, it varies a lot and I seem to see the looser stuff in the younger chicks.
You shouldn't see any green poop unless they are outside on grass or eating dark leafy greens. Of course if you are feeding leafy treats in the brooder you must supply grit to the chicks for digestion.

 

[m2wandc]

growth rate depends on breed and seriously each chicken is different (even within their breed) I had a buffed orpington that grew soooo fast and was GIANT compared to her barred rock sibling (hatched on the same day) and yet at full grown they were similar in size (you can see pics on the link in my signature)

I hope someone can find and post a link to the poop pictures, I know they helped me a lot when I was doing my first baby chick batch...

 

[Humhill]

Here ya go. It's a great reference! It really helped me these past couple weeks. I didn't even know cecal poo existed. I was sure there was something wrong with my babies!

http://www.chat.allotment.org.uk/index.php?topic=17568.0

I've also got some of my different breeds growing and feathering slower. My EE's are the fastest, then the SLWs and the Blue Andalusians are the slowest.

ETA: Apparently, there's a wide range of "normal" in chicken poo.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Chick growth rate can vary a lot by breed. At the moment I have White and Brown Leghorns and Black Sex Links in my brooder (all from Ideal). The White Leghorns are the largest, the Browns the second largest, and the BSLs the smallest. It won't stay this way though. By the time they are mature the list will be BSLs, White, and Brown.

.....Alan.

 

[Mama2B&D&...Chickens]

Yep...my EE is feathering WAY faster than everyone else...then my BO, then the Australorp girl and GLW and finally my little Roo

 

[donnavee]

Last year when I was a newbie as well, part of my little flock were 2 EEs & 2 BSLs. One of the EEs was small, but the other was bigger and grew and feathered out faster. The BSLs were the smallest and one of then in particular seemed to have runny brown poop. I worried constantly, but she showed no signs of illness and the poo eventually solidified. As I remember, the BSLs were the last of our breeds to start getting their big girl feathers, it was really noticeable when the rust colored chest feathers started comining in - they looked like they had on little vests.

 

[anniem]

Thanks everyone, i'll have to look for the poop link (I thought my days of wading thru message boards about poop were over when I got done with parenting boards!

).
It's that double edge sword of message boards, they are a great great source of info but also make you were aware of all possible problems at once.

Anyway, my girls sound pretty typical so far, phew!

 

[Desma]

Your girls look fine and they are really cute. I am a newbie too and have 8 baby chicks that are nearly all filled in finally with feathers except for my two Silkie ladies, Tammy and Tootsie. If you want to have lots of fun with them, get some mealie worms. I have been taking mine outside everyday for about a half hour carrying them in a small pet carrier to let them pick and scratch in the yard and they just love it. I have 2 Rhode Is Reds, 3 Americaunas and 1 Australorp and 2 Silkies. I have noticed that they vary in size and growth rate. One of my Americaunas, Lilly, is the biggest and the Australorp is the same size too.