Is there anything wrong with my chick?

[auntbee]

We got 6 new chicks last week, and they are now 6 days old. Lulu is a barred rock and she seems to be the sweetest, but I'm also a little worried about her. She likes to be held and will often fall asleep in my hand, then when I put my hand back in the box so she can jump in, she will just sit there. Today, the all the chicks were eating their starter, and she just fell asleep in the middle of them! They were all jostling around and her little head was resting on the back of one of the other chicks. She does seem the smallest, but we took them outside today and she got a worm and took off then ate the whole thing in one gulp. She can be feisty when she wants to be, but I'm just a little worried since these are our first chicks. Is she ok? Is this just her personality? When we were outside, she also started cheeping loudly and ran up to me, and quieted down when I held her and stroked her back. She's so sweet, please tell me if there's anything I need to do!

 

[crtrlovr]

if she's eating, drinking, and pooping normally, it sounds like you have a sweet, laid-back, calm chick. Enjoy her!

My BR (Betty) is considerably calmer than the Australorps, some of the Buff Orps, and some of the RIR pullets I got in the spring. She may not be the first to run to me, but she strolls over for some petting and to check out whether or not I've brought treats ... She's a sweetie, and I hope yours is the same.

 

[Mahonri]

Sounds like you have a wonderful chick that will grow up to be a wonderful hen.

 

[birdlover]

Awww, she sounds adorable!! So many people here have wished they had a chick like yours. She sounds fine but just bonded to you. Enjoy her!! Pics???

 

[Cetawin]

Sounds like you have one of these:

Congrats and enjoy her. She has just bonded with you. They are really fun when they are so adorable and trusting like that.

 

[Beanbag]

If she is a runt then maybe that would explain the sleepiness? It also sounds like she thinks you are her mommy.

Make sure you keep us up to date about her over the next few months, I'd love to hear how she is doing as she grows up.

 

[swtangel321]

I have a little silkie chick that is/was like that, when she/he was a little chick it would cuddle and fall asleep on me, now that she/he is a "big" chicken (still little, but in the coop now) when I go out to visit with them she/he flys up on my lap and takes a little nap... I don't see anything wrong with it, my husband tells me i'm going to turn it into a sissy chicken !!!

 

[auntbee]

Oh good, thanks so much everyone!

I'll put up pics when I get home from work.

 

[Pullet Pimp]

I don't mean to be a party pooper here, but I would watch her EXTRA close. Our chickies are the same age (1 week today) and we also had a runt (mine was SLW) exactly as you described. She was more clam than the others when we were at the brooder, would sleep often and in our hands when we wanted to put her back. We thought it was sweet and that she was just more use to us and liked the attention more than the others. We were wrong, she died yesterday! She showed no symptoms of illness other then maybe being a little clumsy at times. Her lack of shyness and being smaller had me concerned just because she was not acting like the other 24 birds. I was trying to get advice on what to do to help her here but was too late. It was suggested to give her Polyvisol or infant vitamins to boost her nutrition a bit. Also make sure you see that she is drinking regularly so as not to get dehydrated.

Hope your situation turns out better than ours did.

 

[arlee453]

Auntbee, not to be the 'naysayer' here...but often times lethargy can be a sign of failure to thrive.

Being a smaller chick can make it difficult to get enough feed as it will get exhausted by being jostled around by the other larger chicks when it tries to feed. Being a laid-back personality doesn't help either....

To be on the safe side, here's what I'd do. Take your chick out several times a day and give her one-on-one access to the food. When I have a chick like this, I try to take them out at least 3-4 times per day, as their little crops won't hold but only so much - like babies.

I offer them the chick starter mixed with warm (not too hot) water. They usually don't need much encouragement and they love the starter like that. Mixing with water also helps ensure she's getting enough to drink. Others also add scrambled or boiled egg and/or yogurt as well for extra protein and calories. Let her eat as much as you can get her to. You can dip her beak into the mixture to encourage her to eat a few more bites - try to get that crop good and full.

Also give her free access to water at that time too - just being a little dehydrated will cut energy output 30% in humans...I can only imagine how much more of an effect it would have on a little chick.

I hope she does well for you! Once they start lagging behind in growth, it is very hard for them to keep up with the other chickens at the feeder and you end up with a vicious cycle that ends with the little chick often being starved or pecked to death...

edit to add: pullet pimp and I must have been typing at the same time!