New baby chick mom

[Dunwoody-Jen]

Hi Everyone! I’m a new chick mom- we brought home 5 babies last week, 2 Easter Eggers, 1 RIR, 1 Lavender Orpington and 1 Plymouth Rock. Got them all from a local hatchery where we were able to observe and hand pick them out. They are now just over a week old. They are growing well and have been gaining weight ( we do daily weigh ins because we are newbies and terrified) all except our RIR girl who has maintained but not gained. She is small,lively and a good eater/drinker and nobody gives her a hard time but we can’t figure out why she’s staying small.Her feathers are developing and she looks healthy but she’s tiny. She does seem to sleep a lot. She also chirps a lot. Suggestions? Thanks!

 

[azygous]

She may be lagging because she still has an underdeveloped digestive system. She may not be processing her nutrients efficiently so she isn't gaining weight or growing. I suggest Poultry Nutri-drench for a few days to get her little system jump started.

 

[sylviethecochin]

x2

Does she chirp less if you cuddle her? Many undersized chicks have problems maintaining body heat.

 

[Melky]

Are you using 20% protein starter grower medicated feed for best growth? Medicated to prevent coccidiosis.

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

She may be lagging because she still has an underdeveloped digestive system. She may not be processing her nutrients efficiently so she isn't gaining weight or growing. I suggest Poultry Nutri-drench for a few days to get her little system jump started.

Thank you! I have some Nutridrench arriving today and will start her on it!

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

Are you using 20% protein starter grower medicated feed for best growth? Medicated to prevent coccidiosis.

Yes, all chicks are in medicated feed and we are cleaning out the brooder twice a day and changing the water even more frequently.

 

[Dunwoody-Jen]

x2

Does she chirp less if you cuddle her? Many undersized chicks have problems maintaining body heat.

Yes she does like to be cuddled by us as well as the other chicks. We are still keeping the heat at around 90 because of this even though they are now 10 days old.

 

[azygous]

Ninety is pretty warm if the entire brooder is that temp. A heat lamp is really unnecessary with a heat plate. Heat requirement is an individual thing. Chicks will move under it to warm up and away from it afterward. It's especially important to have a cool space so any chick that has absorbed too much heat can get away and shed it. Overheating is one of the causes of lethargy in a chick.

 

[Melky]

Yes she does like to be cuddled by us as well as the other chicks. We are still keeping the heat at around 90 because of this even though they are now 10 days old.

At 14 days wean to 85 if have not already.