Newbie here with 5 new chicks and a new coop in Northern MN / Question about chicks

[ChickenGary]

Hi I joined like 10 mins ago. I was persuaded by my wife to get some chickens this year, So I built an insulated coop with power and a run area. I bought 5 chicks from the local fleet farm and now they are out of the house and in the new coop. I have a Black Australorp (sp) Rhode Island Red , Goldstar and 2 Americana's . I have had great advise from the Fleet Store.... So enough of that I have a question already... well make that 2 ... First/ one of my Americana Chicks is about 2/3 the size of the other and has spotty feathers all over not sure she is healthy I can post pic if needed. The Rhode Island Red chick has been aggresive since the get go... and in my opinion could be a roo... as it is always chasing the others and is the first to come out all the time and anyway I can post pic as well. So far this has been fun and my kids are enjoying it as am I. If anyone has any input as to what might be wrong with the Americana chick and if the Rhode Red could be a Roo (but I hear they are a bit more aggresive) let me know thanks in advance ... And this is a pretty cool site... Not sure If anyone will see this either as I started my own Thread... Gary

 

[kbky1973]

Hi, I'd say the RR is just a bad chick. Lol reds are mean, really mean to other chicks. Might want to keep her apart from the others till they grow bigger, and can take their part. Maybe never will they be able to fight the pecking order the RR is setting up. For the others ,chick 2/3 the size. This happens to all chicks. Some bigger, some smaller. I've got a bunch. They are the same breed, but diff size chicks. Don't worry yet. Just watch them for sickness.

 

[azygous]

The small chick may be a "failure to thrive" chick. Genetic defects may be preventing it from assimilating nutrients, so it isn't developing properly. All you can do it make sure it's eating and drinking and maybe give it some vitamins.

You can discipline a problem chick, roo or not. Read my article on how to do it. It's linked below, the last of the four article. It's very simple and very effective. You simply poke it on the back each time it behaves badly. You don't have to stand there for hours poking it, just when you're observing the chicks and playing with them. It usually corrects the problem within two days.

 

[argonne]

I am also new to chickens. I was thinking about getting the Rjode Island Reds, but I heard they can be a pain in the butt and mean. It sounds like you may just have a typical RIR. How old are the chicks? Could be that your smaller Americana (most likely an Easter egger) is a slow developer. If she's eating and acting normal, she may be okay. I'll defer to the experts on that, though.