Helping the Runt Grow

[OreoH]

Hi everyone! I have six chicks that are roughly 7 weeks old. One of the chicks, a Buff Brahma, is a runt. She had pasty butt as a young chick and there was a week where she drooled and had no energy. She doesn't seem to be growing as much as the others. The others are probably around 2-3 pounds and she is probably the weight of a block of butter. She is visibly smaller, is fully feathered, and looks like a normal chicken altogether This chick is definitely the lowest in the pecking order and her sisters don't exactly go out of their way to help her. She freaks out when I separate her. I think she gets to eat enough but she gets shoved out of the way when there are supplements and treats. I fed them mash this morning with some herbs and they trapped her under the frisbee I was feeding it out of. Does anyone have any tips on helping her move up in the order, or helping her hold up against her sisters? She is very brave, and she dives in, but she just isn't big enough or strong enough. Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Keep a chick starter ration always available so she can eat as much as she needs. Use multiple feeders if necessary. Extras should be limited when they are young to avoid problems.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Wet feed in your hand and feed it to her, give lots of treats, thats what I did for my rescues.

 

[OreoH]

Thank you so much! The are so picky. They literally just took turns taking bites out of a paper plate. But they haven’t eaten their feed.

 

[Kiki]

Stop feeding treats.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

Treats are an important part of fattening up, but don't give it as a central food sorse, make sure she is eating start ad grow in abundance! Treats can come later

 

[Sonya9]

She may always be small. I might consider pulling her aside once a day and feeding her separately by hand not only for the extra nutrition but the extra attention and taming. Some wetted down chick feed, or scrambled egg or a combo.

 

[HAPPYCHICKENLADY17]

I Have a stick of butter also.....she is a very small white frizzle bantam..she fights for her food.....but i do feed her scrambled egg...but i think she will just always be tiny..i dont even think she is 1 lb

 

[OreoH]

Also, I really appreciate all the help. I’m trying to limit treats to a tablespoon per chick every day (should be less than 10 percent of what they eat) and only feeding healthy treats, eggs, oats, and some herbs. I’ll make her some egg and wet feed mash tomorrow.

 

[OreoH]

Also, I really appreciate all the help. I’m trying to limit treats to a tablespoon per chick every day (should be less than 10 percent of what they eat) and only feeding healthy treats, eggs, oats, and some herbs. I’ll make her some egg and wet feed mash tomorrow. They eat about two tubes of feed each day, like the red and white tubes from tractor supply.