Just Curious If I Should be Concerned?

[ColoradoChicken89]

I've got one chick, that just seems "lazier" than the rest. She's seems mostly fine, walks fine, eats and drinks fine, eyes and nose are clear, isn't sneezing... but she just seems to be the last one out of the brooder plate, and the first one back under, and seems to sleep more than the others. The others seem to find her when they are ready to curl up for a nap, and she seems fine with it.

I've seen no signs of bullying, but I'm only with them 30 minutes - 1 hour a day each morning and then again in the evening, so there might be some when I'm not there. I do have one big one that will occasionally run into others cause it just doesn't realize it's so much bigger. Occassionally once or twice, I've caught it chest bump a chick over a worm, but it is squashed as fast as it happens (usually with both running with a tiny piece in opposite directions). It's also never with this one, and usually with the other 2 spunky wild chicks that enjoy climbing all over me.

TBH I assumed it was nothing, but this morning it took her almost an hour to come out and eat and drink when I check on them. Which is unusual even for her. I eventually saw her just snoozing away under the brooder plate. I was nervous she was dead, so I woke her up by gently touching her. She perked up fine, and went and ate and drank a little, but then went back under the brooder plate pretty quickly. I pulled her out to inspect her, and couldn't see anything wrong. She pooped on me, and it seemed normal enough. Maybe a little "dark" but all of the chicks have a deep brown poop color rn, and I can't see anything that looks like blood. Ive been just assuming the dark poops have just been the introduction of the treats the last few days (with grit). She was just alert and watching me, but when I put her back she basically just went back under the brooder plate and laid down again.

I sat there for an extra hour just watching her after that, and she came out and pecked around a little and drank a little more water, but eventually they all went to sleep under the brooder and I let them be.

I had forgotten to turn the light off that night though, so she could have in theory been up and about extra early, and just full/tired. All the chicks seemed to settle down earlier than usual today. Though all but her were throwing a rebellion on top of the brooder plate this morning demanding I refill their bowls, since they scattered all the food throughout the brooder. lol.

Its 7 chicks that are 15 days old EEs with maybe 1 breed outlier, likely 6 pullets/1 cockriel. They eat medicated crumbles rn with a few treats each (meal worms, sunflower seeds, cracked corn), and get a little bit of grit with the treats. I've been cleaning their food and water every day (sometimes twice), and their potty pads under their brooder every 2-3 days (it's a small dog crate so they make a mess out of it fast). I completely skipped the normal treats this morning though and gave them some scrambled egg yolk (with grit). They have access to both normal water and electrolyte water.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are a bit too young for treats. If you wanted to feed something extra scrambled eggs would be best. Corn and sunflower seeds are high in fat, and harder to digest. Both will lower the overall protein intake and can cause slower growth. They are old enough to go outside in a small fenced area under supervision.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

They are a bit too young for treats. If you wanted to feed something extra scrambled eggs would be best. Corn and sunflower seeds are high in fat, and harder to digest. Both will lower the overall protein intake and can cause slower growth. They are old enough to go outside in a small fenced area under supervision.

I will def keep this in mind, and likely stop the treats for a bit, cause that like is it. She's one of the smaller ones, and one of the few that actually likes the corn... lol. I haven't been giving them much, like 1/4 of a meal worm, 1/8th of a piece of corn, 1 sunflowerseed, all broken up into smaller pieces (only for the last 2 days). Though, most of them ignore the corn, she goes for it first, and the timing is right for the cause of her extra sluggishness.

I'll try to take her outside tomorrow. I can probably observe her better, where she can't hide under the brooder (it's a really large one). Tomorrow should be into the 70s. I live in Colorado, so most of the weather has been kinda ... crazy and unpredictable, so was figuring I would wait for a good day. I've got their run fully set up that I can section off a small section with some cardboard or gates. Was planning on painting the coop anyways, so would be there to watch.

EDIT: I should say take "them" out tomorrow lol.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I usually start taking mine outside for the day as soon as the temps allow. See if she perks up a bit with something to do.

You do need to be careful feeding fatty treats like sunflower seeds as it can cause internal fat that can lead to things like fatty liver and prolapse when they start to lay eggs. I do have some in my scratch mix, and use it to get birds out and scratching around, especially in winter.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

I usually start taking mine outside for the day as soon as the temps allow. See if she perks up a bit with something to do.

You do need to be careful feeding fatty treats like sunflower seeds as it can cause internal fat that can lead to things like fatty liver and prolapse when they start to lay eggs. I do have some in my scratch mix, and use it to get birds out and scratching around, especially in winter.

Thanks for the advice!!! I bought the mix because it was cheaper, and I figured I could see what they gravitated towards, but I was surprised by how many sunflower seeds were in it. I figured I would probably blend a few things into it until I find what works for us, and then just mix my own as I figure out what they want. Likely a mostly mealworms and bugs as it seems to be what they like the best (they ate a tiny grasshopper faster than I could realize it was there).

I don't plan to use too many treats in their lifetime though tbh. They will be semi freerange, with some time in the afternoons in a chicken tractor. I just want to find something to easily get them to do what I need them to do, and go where I need them to go, with (hopefully) not having to catch them...

So far so good anyways... 4 out of 7 immediately perch on my arm and run up to my shoulder, if I just think about sticking my arm in their brooder. lol.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

Gladly she seems to be doing a lot better today. She's still "lazy" in a way, but I think some of it just her personality. Its like she's just a little more cautious and shy than her more rambunctious siblings.

I got them outside today in the sun for about an hour. They all ran around trying to fly, jumping off my lap (I was sitting on the ground) to catch some air. It was pretty cute to watch. She did it a few times, but eventually just crawled her way up onto my shoulder and watched the rest while she snuggled in my hair and groomed me. I eventually brought them back inside when they all started to crawl into my lap and huddling up to sleep in the crooks of my elbows (it was only about 65 out). Figured we can do another 30 minute stint this afternoon when the ground is a little warmer.

Poop wise, they are all doing a lot better. It's not as dark, and much more a normal brown color, even hers. Her cecal was a few shades darker than the others (she did it on my shoulder ), but it was a very normal consitency and an average amount smelly. lol. I haven't given them any more of anything extra, except a tiny pinch of scrambled egg each earlier for stepping up into my hand. They all seem to love scrambled eggs too, so it makes it an easy switch for the little I use.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Once they get a taste for scrambled eggs they will come running for it. It helps they grow well and makes them more friendly. Glad she's feeling, and looking better. Sounds like a nice time outside.