little runt chick

[OHhappychicks]

One of the little bantam chicks I purchased at tsc on saturday, doesn't seem to be growing as fast as the others. He stands up and sleeps with one foot in front and one foot behind. He seems wobbly but won't lay down to sleep. He runs to the food and eats, but I haven't seen him drink, but tried to drop some on his beak last nite. I dont' think he took much in. I really figured he wouldn't be alive this morn. He is chirping some, just stands around alot. I have to clean his bottom off 2-3 times a day. It is the white stuff, not his poo. He is just a little sluggish. Should I try giving him some yogurt or a hard boiled egg. Any suggestions?

 

[afinney]

I have a SSH that I got from TSC thats the same way bought him a month ago and he's the same size he was when I bought him.....eats and drinks fine but won't grow! I would try the yogurt or maybe plain pedialyte........can you seperate with maybe another baby thats calm~sorry wasn't much help

 

[OHhappychicks]

I was thinking about separating them. I bought 6 bantams. 3 of them are 2-3 weeks old. This little guy or gal and the other 2 of his breed are less than a week old. I believe I should maybe separate the older ones from the younger. I am going to try the yogurt to. Thank you for responding. It just helps to get someone elses opinion sometimes.

 

[wildorchid053]

mashed up hard boiled yolk is good to try.. i would wait on the yogurt . how about warming his water and adding sugar? there are vitamin/electrolite mixtures you can use in the water also that might help

 

[wfiles]

Hi! I am new to the forum and to raising chicken. So far we love our chickens! I started out with 2 day old barred rocks, 2 golden laced wyandottes, and one 3 month old white bantam with crooked feet. My husband and I have moved them outside into a coop and they seem to be doing wonderful. About a month after I got the first batch I got a speckled sussex that was supposedly the same age. she was much smaller and one of the wyanottes picked on her so she has been a house chicken and prefers to sit on my husband's bald head.

Here is my problem. We hatched eggs at the elementary school were I work. There was one Black sex link that had a large amount of un-absorbed yold. I cut if off because the other chicks were pecking it and bothering the chick. She wasn't eating and was having a lot of trouble standing up. She would just sit with her legs out in front of her. She also wouldn't open her eyes at first. I took her home for the weekend and fed her yogurt and scrambled egg. Sunday night she is finally started to perk up and seems to be getting some sight. She can now walk around and even jump up on a small box her bin. She eats and drinks when I give them to her with a dropper, but seems not to be coordinated enough to bend and peck. She is smaller than the other chicks that hatched at the same time.

Has anyone had a simialr experience? What did you do? I don't mind taking extra care of this chick, I just want to know if anyone has any suggestion. I don't believe something needs to be killed just because it is a little extra work. Thanks! I look forward to talking to other chicken crazy people.

 

[OHhappychicks]

The water is warm as it is in with the heat lamp. It is around 82 degrees in the box. I've been putting the electolytes and vitamins in the water. Sometime it seems a little more alert than other times. right now its is sleeping and seems to be a little sluggish. This afternoon it was a little more awake and would go and eat some and would run a little if I tried to pick it up. Will try the egg also. Thank you.

 

[OHhappychicks]

To wfiles,

This is the first experience I have had with a tiny chick. It sounds like you have done something right if yours is getting more alert. I'm hoping my little chick will do as well. He seems to be pretty weak tonite. I got some more water down him a little while ago. I have seen him eat a little. I'm going to fix him a hardboiled egg right now and try that. I hope that works.

 

[OHhappychicks]

The little guy didn't make it. Awakened yesterday morn and he was gone. I think he was a mille fluer. He tried but I think he was just too small. Lost a red sexlinked this past week, also. She had been attacked by our neighbors dog about a week/week and 1/2 ago, but only minor visible injuries. We thought she was doing fine. Was acting normal. DH found her in the coop.

But everyone else is up and kicking and doing great. Will be going to get 16 more chicks one the 2 of May. 8 Araucanas and 8 speckled sussex. Can't wait for them.