- Apr 19, 2009
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There are a lot of variables that can contribute to "runty" chicks -- some are environmental (things you did/do), others are genetic and/or a result of things that happened at the hatchery and were not of your control.
The cracked corn, even though you only fed it for three days, likely contributed to their slowed growth at least somewhat. The first three days of their growth is rather rapid. Cracked corn alone cannot support that growth. It's not the be all end all though. Your brooder setup and location could also have played a part. If it was too cold for them they would have used more energy to stay warm, less to grow. Even if it was technically warm enough if it was drafty the same thing can happen -- more energy used for warmth, less to growth.
Alternatively, hatchery chicks can tend towards the small side and if you have just a small batch of them you could have gotten mostly small chicks. In addition to this if the chicks were hatched from pullet eggs those chicks tend to be smaller, less thrifty and slower growing (at best), ime.
IMO, it's probably a combination of the above. Small hatchery chicks, because of the time of year more likely that they may be from pullet eggs and less than stellar chick environment all combined.
The cracked corn, even though you only fed it for three days, likely contributed to their slowed growth at least somewhat. The first three days of their growth is rather rapid. Cracked corn alone cannot support that growth. It's not the be all end all though. Your brooder setup and location could also have played a part. If it was too cold for them they would have used more energy to stay warm, less to grow. Even if it was technically warm enough if it was drafty the same thing can happen -- more energy used for warmth, less to growth.
Alternatively, hatchery chicks can tend towards the small side and if you have just a small batch of them you could have gotten mostly small chicks. In addition to this if the chicks were hatched from pullet eggs those chicks tend to be smaller, less thrifty and slower growing (at best), ime.
IMO, it's probably a combination of the above. Small hatchery chicks, because of the time of year more likely that they may be from pullet eggs and less than stellar chick environment all combined.
