My chick doesn't like the chick starter??

[Bluebyrd]

I have a 1 week old BR. she is half the size of the BR chick I bought her with. She just isn't growing and peeps almost constantly.

I have been keeping an eye on her and the rest of the gang...she is not being picked on by the others, and gets access to food/water. She runs around is active with the rest. I've checked her vent and crop all seems well. She is getting her feathers, just not growing much.

I've checked her poops and they are watery....which on the poop ID page says it could be too hot or not eating enough.

I've watched her peck a bit at the food, but she doesn't really eat it much......I've seen her eat bugs (flying around the lamp) like crazy and so, I brought her a worm - gone in 2 seconds. I got her a baby grasshopper, that one took 5 seconds!! Got her a few more worms today- and now she runs up to me looking for more every time I come near.

So-Question ( Finally) is it possible that she doesn't like the chick food? I tried mashing it for her, nope -cheep cheep- where's the worm??? am I doomed to digging for worms forever now?? anyone have any suggestions?? PLease??

 

[hoppy]

this is what I have done. yours seems to like moving food, so take your finger and flick some food around, she'll chase it and eat it. to start chicks on food, I put the food on a papertowel- they can see it easier I figure. I also tap my finger in the food to get them interested. you might want to separate this chick so you can watch it better. it could have a heavy load of parasites and doesn't want to eat.

 

[Bluebyrd]

The chick in question:

Thanks

 

[Bluebyrd]

Thanks hoppy

I posted those pics before I saw your reply...

I have kept her seperated to watch her.....and boy does she protest, I had no idea they could be soooo loud!!!
I have scratched and tapped at the food, she comes over looks and walks away..however I have not tried flicking it. I think you might be onto something with her liking moving food.

Do they get parasites even if they have medicated food? and soo young? I know worms can carry them, but this is the first day I gave them to her.....and her sister who came from the same place is fine. So - hopefully not?

 

[SimplyForties]

What a cutie!

 

[annek]

Quote:
Medicated food is only for coccidia, nothing else.

 

[Mahonri]

Well, she is feathering... so she must be eating something.

 

[annek]

You can give her boiled eggs and see if she likes that. Normally chicks go crazy over that. No grit is needed with eggs. Chop it up fine for her at this age. If you have a food processor they work great.

 

[artsyrobin]

also, try dampening the starter with water, they love mushy crumbles- it just might help her get started

 

[Bluebyrd]

Thanks for all the good info!!

So, I tried the mush again. nothing

I hard boiled an egg and mashed it up, nothing....I decided to take it out to the other girls, I figured if they'd eat it, she might too.

You know what she does? Takes one look at the egg on the ground (which the others love) and makes a b-line straight for the feeder with chick starter in it and pigs out.

:

Its the same thing in the same container she wouldn't eat before!!

(sigh)

So I can only assume she might have some kind of parasite......or she's just plain little and like to sqwak alot.........

kinda like me