One chick acting differently

[AmeliaEgghart]

Hi everyone! I got my chicks today-- a Jersey giant, a barred rock, a buff orp, and a cochin. The cochin chick is very loud and quite a bit less coordinated than the others. She's been drinking well, but I haven't seen her eating (that's no saying she hasn't, I just haven't seen it). She's coming and going under the brooder and runs around, but the other three just seem more contented. Do I just have one personality outlier or should I be looking for something wrong?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Keep an eye on it, some Nutri Drench would be a good boost. Where'd you get them from? Is the Cochin a bantam? Certain breeds, no experience with Cochins, are more excitable

 

[AmeliaEgghart]

I gave some electrolytes in their water first thing. I got them from MyPetChicken, and they were only in shipping overnight. She's not a bantam.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Keep an eye on it, it's more likely adjusting from being shipped & new surroundings/brooder mates

 

[AmeliaEgghart]

The only thing that's keeping me from panicking is that she's drinking well and knows to go under the brooder.

 

[CourtKnee]

Is she pooping? How does her crop look? I have a Black Copper Marans chick who one day was full of energy and the next wanted to stay under the MHP all day while the other chicks ran about eating and pooping all day. I suspected she wasn’t able to clear her crop. All she would do was drink. So I massaged her crop in many short sessions throughout the second day of her keeping to herself under the MHP. I also noticed her trying to poop but nothing would come out and her crop was full. I think the massaging of her crop helped because she finally passed some poop and has been doing chick things ever since. She’s a couple days behind in growth now, so tiny compared to the others, which was another clue that food wasn’t getting through her crop. Nutridrench helped her so much during those two days she wasn’t absorbing her food.

This may not have anything to do with what your chick is experiencing, but if my detailed experience could help you diagnose your chick in anyway then I am happy to share.

 

[AmeliaEgghart]

Status quo this morning-- everyone seems good. I tried some scrambled late last night for the cochin, but she wasn't interested (everyone else thought it was grand). She's loud and she's drinking very well (has had NutriDrench in one water offering, drank plenty of that, and has had electrolytes in all other water). She runs around the bin and is no way lethargic. This morning I ground up the chick starter fine and made a bit of a mash. I saw her pecking at that a bit, and when I put starter in my hand and offered it to the other chicks, she pecked around, kind of imitating them, and maybe got a little.

She is pooping and her crop does not appear distended in any way, but I'm going to try the massage today anyway. Can't hurt! Thank you everyone!