Not an injury; 'Tag' on chick's jaw.

[Zinjifrah]

Small update; There's no change on the tag, but with access to fresh water treated with both vitamin powder and ACV, and chick crumble wetted with plain live-culture yogurt, both chicks are walking with no problem, their feet look entirely normal now - no folding the outside toe under the rest any more - and they are just as active and feisty as the rest. The sibling is no longer sleeping on its back very often, either. I think it was getting knocked over by the other chicks while trying to walk... and just went to sleep like that rather than try to get back up.

Tomorrow I'll weigh the chick, and measure the tag again.

 

[Zinjifrah]

Egg set 6-6-18, Hatched 6-27-18.

Weight on 6-27-18: 33 grams.
Weight on 6-30-18: 38 grams.

The tag does not appear to be getting any larger. It is visible at the right angle now that the fluff has smoothed a little, but since this chick is one of the two smallest, the others don't seem to see it under its jaw. Still keeping an eye on that. Other than that, there isn't any discernible change.

Photo of tag:

Photo of chick standing, tag slightly visible (Sorry for the poor quality):

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the update!

 

[Zinjifrah]

Thank you for the update!

No problem. I'll keep updating over the next few weeks, once or twice a week, to monitor the progress.

Right now I'm being absurdly fussy and running back and forth from the house to the coop - because I decided to try putting the chicks in the flight cage, rather than keep them in the house. They've got heat, are protected from the other birds, it's a warm night, they've been out most of the day and loving it... still worry.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

No problem. I'll keep updating over the next few weeks, once or twice a week, to monitor the progress.

Right now I'm being absurdly fussy and running back and forth from the house to the coop - because I decided to try putting the chicks in the flight cage, rather than keep them in the house. They've got heat, are protected from the other birds, it's a warm night, they've been out most of the day and loving it... still worry.

LOL

Think about how you won't have to clean up all that fuzz and dust with them being out of the house! I had my last batch in my laundry room for about 2wks, but they had to go!! It was still in the upper 20s, low 30s at night (March) they did just fine with a Mama Heating Pad. I did a lot of running out the door too and I even have a camera in the run so I could see them too

 

[WVduckchick]

Egg set 6-6-18, Hatched 6-27-18.

Weight on 6-27-18: 33 grams.
Weight on 6-30-18: 38 grams.

The tag does not appear to be getting any larger. It is visible at the right angle now that the fluff has smoothed a little, but since this chick is one of the two smallest, the others don't seem to see it under its jaw. Still keeping an eye on that. Other than that, there isn't any discernible change.

Photo of tag:
View attachment 1450694
Photo of chick standing, tag slightly visible (Sorry for the poor quality):
View attachment 1450695

So cute! Very pretty coloring.
Is it a standard Cochin? I forgot if you mentioned breed.

 

[Zinjifrah]

LOL

Think about how you won't have to clean up all that fuzz and dust with them being out of the house! I had my last batch in my laundry room for about 2wks, but they had to go!! It was still in the upper 20s, low 30s at night (March) they did just fine with a Mama Heating Pad. I did a lot of running out the door too and I even have a camera in the run so I could see them too

I figured out that I should just go to bed when I peeked in on them at the coldest part of the night... and they were not only not under the heat, they were playing, eating and drinking. They're much, much happier out there!

So cute! Very pretty coloring.
Is it a standard Cochin? I forgot if you mentioned breed.

It's a barnyard mix - it MAY be all Cochin, but I'm not sure. The eggs were from a local lady who sells them for eating; She has a Cochin roo, but her hens are Cochin, RIR, EE and a couple that she's not sure on - one black, one buff. I suspect the black is probably Australorp and the buff is probably Orpington, just because I've seen those available at the local feed stores frequently. It came from a smaller, lighter egg than most of the rest, cream colored rather than brown.

The only one I'm sure on the parentage of is a big yellow-and-russet chick - it hatched from the only blue egg, so it's got to be from the EE. Besides, in addition to fluffy legs, that one looks to have muffs, a beard, and what looks like a pea comb.

 

[Abriana]

Could it just be a birth defect?

 

[Zinjifrah]

Could it just be a birth defect?

It undoubtedly is, given the other problems that chick and the one like it had. They're doing very well now, but it'll be interesting to see how the tag develops as the chick develops.

 

[Zinjifrah]

Update! One week old today. I think bi-weekly should work for updates.

Progression;

Egg set 6-6-18, Hatched 6-27-18.

Weight on 6-27-18: 33 grams.
Weight on 6-30-18: 38 grams.
Weight on 7-4-18: 54 grams. Growing well!

The tag is indeed growing larger, and remains attached to the skin, easily manipulated at the point of connection, but firm and sensitive to pressure on the body of the tag itself. I am starting to think that it will continue to grow like beak and toenail material, which is what it resembles. I've tentatively dubbed the chick 'It'.

Photo of tag;

Photo of chick overall;

The chicks are all doing marvelously and growing fast, loving their freedom out in the integration pen.