I think I have a dwarf chick!!

[Libethmarie]

View attachment 1773354 I have a chick that is about a month old and he still looks like he’s a few days old. He has no feathers it’s starting to worry me since this is the first hatch that I’ve had since owning chickens. His two sisters are almost fully feathered. Is there anything I need to do to help him or am I just stuck with a baby chick? (He is the one on the right). He is the oldest one too!

 

[sourland]

Some chicks just exhibit failure to thrive. I have seen chicks like that suddenly start growing and reach normal size and others that simply faded away. Good luck. Hopefully the chick is from the first sort.

 

[333113]

I have a chick that is about a month old and he still looks like he’s a few days old. He has no feathers it’s starting to worry me since this is the first hatch that I’ve had since owning chickens. His two sisters are almost fully feathered. Is there anything I need to do to help him or am I just stuck with a baby chick?

There is a gene for slow feathering that hatcheries use to tell the boys from the girls. Cackle Hatchery has a pretty good article on this:
https://blog.cacklehatchery.com/what-is-feather-sexing-separating-fact-from-myth/

From what I've read, there is no problem with the slow-feathering types. You might want to wait a bit. If the slow featherer is eating and drinking okay, then he will probably be fine. And you will be able to use him to tell the boys from the girls early on in your breeding program, too! I have a few of those in my rose comb Nankin flock.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Can you post a picture? Hopefully she is just a slow developer. Be sure to feed her a 20% protein starter feed. If you are feeding her occasional treats, she needs access to chick grit.
Hoping for the best for your sweet fuzz baby!

 

[Libethmarie]

He’s eating like his sisters! All day every day all three of them go through that feeder at least once a day

There is a gene for slow feathering that hatcheries use to tell the boys from the girls. Cackle Hatchery has a pretty good article on this:
https://blog.cacklehatchery.com/what-is-feather-sexing-separating-fact-from-myth/

From what I've read, there is no problem with the slow-feathering types. You might want to wait a bit. If the slow featherer is eating and drinking okay, then he will probably be fine. And you will be able to use him to tell the boys from the girls early on in your breeding program, too! I have a few of those in my rose comb Nankin flock.

eating

 

[Libethmarie]

Can you post a picture? Hopefully she is just a slow developer. Be sure to feed her a 20% protein starter feed. If you are feeding her occasional treats, she needs access to chick grit.
Hoping for the best for your sweet fuzz baby!

I just added a picture to the original thread. and thank you!

 

[Libethmarie]

I've had dwarfs myself and the lack of size or feathers is common with mine too. They die and never survive past 6 weeks..Mine were all Call Duckling dwarfs.

Now I’m getting worried he’s my little snuggle bug and he’s eating and drinking fine

 

[Celticdragonfly]

Can't see the picture. One of mine is way smaller than the others, too. But then mine are 4 different breeds.

 

[Libethmarie]

I honestly do not know what breed it is. I know it’s a bantam due to the leg feathers but I have no idea who his mom is. My hen stole all of her eggs from the other hens

 

[Libethmarie]

Some chicks just exhibit failure to thrive. I have seen chicks like that suddenly start growing and reach normal size and others that simply faded away. Good luck. Hopefully the chick is from the first sort.

I really hope so too