How much should my chicks weigh?

[Salmonsalmon]

I have three three-week-old and one two-week-old brahmas. While they do seem to be eating, their keel bones feel a little skinny. I'm just now starting to pay attention to their crops specifically, and so far they have always been big and filled with baby feed. How much should they weigh? One of my three week olds weighs 120 grams. This same three week old seems to have its crop a bit on the side. Is that normal?

They also tend to dig for food more than they get it from the actual food bowl. What's that about?

They seem to be doing good otherwise, but I'm not sure how fat they should be as I don't have a lot of experience yet.

They're also on fairly big wood shavings so i don't think they've been eating their bedding.

I'm in the netherlands, if there's specific products to recommend please recommend european ones!

 

[DemeterAD9]

I can’t say for sure what weight they should be at but if they have chick food and water available at all times and they are behaving as they should I would not worry about them being too thin. Chicks won’t be plump and muscly but rather lanky little things until they are at full size, then they put on weight and fill out more. Much like teenagers haha!

The crops is supposed to be off to the side so that’s perfectly normal. As for scratching around, that’s a chicken for you. They love to scratch around and they’ll do it just because. It wouldn’t hurt to start giving them chick grit just in case they eat a few small flakes. I don’t actually use chick grit but rather grab some sandy dirt from outside for them. They can dust bathe or pick grit if they want to.

 

[SourRoses]

Chick weight varies by breed and bloodline, male and female, so there is no standard in that way. It's useful to compare to the same chicks though, so you can see that they're gaining.

At certain ages their keel bone will protrude more than others. Especially in the large breeds that need a robust bone structure. Chicks don't often grow evenly... they go up, then out / or out, then up... they sprout feathers in some places and not others. It's a very awkward process.
Breeds that feather in fast, like layers, tend to cover their gangly weirdness with feathers. Whereas big breed like Orpingtons and Brahmas feather in slow and thus display all the oddness. Giant feet and all.

Protein is really important for the big breeds. I like to offer 20% as a minimum feed. Do they make 20% chick starter (or broiler feed) over there?

I would consider their crops carefully though. When you say one is carrying the crop to the side (that is normal) it makes me think you are actually seeing a bulging crop (not emptying well). Make sure you provide grit (granite / stone) in a separate dish for them. Whether you think they're eating the shavings or not (they can be sneaky) there are other things - such as flying insects - that they can get clogged up with.

 

[Salmonsalmon]

Chick weight varies by breed and bloodline, male and female, so there is no standard in that way. It's useful to compare to the same chicks though, so you can see that they're gaining.

At certain ages their keel bone will protrude more than others. Especially in the large breeds that need a robust bone structure. Chicks don't often grow evenly... they go up, then out / or out, then up... they sprout feathers in some places and not others. It's a very awkward process.
Breeds that feather in fast, like layers, tend to cover their gangly weirdness with feathers. Whereas big breed like Orpingtons and Brahmas feather in slow and thus display all the oddness. Giant feet and all.

Protein is really important for the big breeds. I like to offer 20% as a minimum feed. Do they make 20% chick starter (or broiler feed) over there?

I would consider their crops carefully though. When you say one is carrying the crop to the side (that is normal) it makes me think you are actually seeing a bulging crop (not emptying well). Make sure you provide grit (granite / stone) in a separate dish for them. Whether you think they're eating the shavings or not (they can be sneaky) there are other things - such as flying insects - that they can get clogged up with.

Thanks for your reply! I'll look for the 20% starter! Is the kind of grit that i can buy in stores for chickens with low calcium(?) the same as granite/stone? Would sand be just as good? I'll look through the pet store later today

 

[Salmonsalmon]

I can’t say for sure what weight they should be at but if they have chick food and water available at all times and they are behaving as they should I would not worry about them being too thin. Chicks won’t be plump and muscly but rather lanky little things until they are at full size, then they put on weight and fill out more. Much like teenagers haha!

The crops is supposed to be off to the side so that’s perfectly normal. As for scratching around, that’s a chicken for you. They love to scratch around and they’ll do it just because. It wouldn’t hurt to start giving them chick grit just in case they eat a few small flakes. I don’t actually use chick grit but rather grab some sandy dirt from outside for them. They can dust bathe or pick grit if they want to.

Thank you! Does dirt just serve the same purpose?