One chick is much smaller.

[CedarAcres]

One of our chicks in our younger batch is a lot smaller than the rest. They are under a week old, and she just seems SO small to me! We've had other chicks that were slightly smaller in the past, but she is a lot smaller. She's eating, drinking, zooming around and having a great time. Her stool is normal. The only odd behavior I've noticed is she seems a bit "spacey" at times, where she'll just stare off into space. She's not getting picked on or anything, but I just notice something "different" about her. Besides the size, I can't put my finger on it.

I'm debating whether I should give her any special attention or not. I don't really want to separate her since she's doing great with everyone else. Usually I'd say she's eating & drinking normally and seems happy, so she's fine.. but I've never had such a little chick before! Any suggestions?

 

[CedarAcres]

bump.. anyone?

 

[Eggcessive]

The chick sounds fine, but you could always give it some baby vitamins without iron, a drop or two for a couple of days.

 

[noahsmom]

I have a chick who is doing the same, this chick was the last to hatch and had a rough start. It became stuck in the egg and had to peel the egg slowly off from him/her. It began to star gaze I believe and I dosed it with vitamins before I even took it out of the incubator.
My chick is also eating, drinking (I believe I never see it but is VERY slowly growing), and zooming around but like yours mine will just stand and stare and like you I just can't put my finger on its 'off' personality. Mine also chirped and chirped until I would pick it up and hold it, it will fall asleep in my hands. I think the best thing for us to do is just treat them the same as the others and hope for the best. I have heard of small chicks like this passing suddenly and I've prepared myself for it, but I hope not! I'm providing vitamins in my chickens water the first week just to give them an extra good start, so I think this is helping.

 

[CedarAcres]

Noahsmom, your chick does sound just like mine! I can't quite describe it, but something is just odd with her. Naturally, she's my husband's favorite, so I'm really hoping she's okay. I've had animals my whole life, so I've been exposed to everything from dogs & cats to horses passing away, so I deal with it better than him. We've been pretty lucky with chicks though and we've only lost one in the past, but my husband took it really hard.

Normally you think as long as they are eating and drinking and being active, they are fine. But I just can't help feeling like there is something that is not right with her, but I can't explain what. I'm hoping that both our chicks are fine!

 

[Loghousemom]

What breeds are they?

I have one that is behaving similar. My kids picked it out at the feed store, not sure of the breed, but a little black chick.

I also have one way bigger than the others... Already been given the name "red roo".

 

[noahsmom]

Noahsmom, your chick does sound just like mine! I can't quite describe it, but something is just odd with her. Naturally, she's my husband's favorite, so I'm really hoping she's okay. I've had animals my whole life, so I've been exposed to everything from dogs & cats to horses passing away, so I deal with it better than him. We've been pretty lucky with chicks though and we've only lost one in the past, but my husband took it really hard.

Normally you think as long as they are eating and drinking and being active, they are fine. But I just can't help feeling like there is something that is not right with her, but I can't explain what. I'm hoping that both our chicks are fine!

I do too and like your husband I take any animals passing extremely hard, we lost one chick and I was sort of depressed for several hours that day because I tried so hard to keep him/her a live and he died anyway. But it is a part of having animals and especially chickens, if you are going to have them then you have to be accepting of when they pass. - Something I'm already learning first hand.

 

[CedarAcres]

Mine is a black australorp, We named her Itty Bitty. I can't seem to get a photo of her next to one of the others to show the size difference.. they move around way too much!

 

[CedarAcres]

I do too and like your husband I take any animals passing extremely hard, we lost one chick and I was sort of depressed for several hours that day because I tried so hard to keep him/her a live and he died anyway. But it is a part of having animals and especially chickens, if you are going to have them then you have to be accepting of when they pass. - Something I'm already learning first hand.

The one chick we lost was the same as you, we tried really hard to save her, but she just didn't handle getting shipped well. We only had her a few hours, but I was glad that she was able to pass peacefully in my hands rather than in a shipping box or in a crowded feed store. The little chick we have now just has so much personality & spunk.. I really hope she makes it! She's chowing down on her food right now and just seems happy.

 

[noahsmom]

Just wanted to say my little baby died today while I was gone at work
I'm a little relieved for him/her because I knew something was off and believe with the foot problem he/she always acted in pain. I hope she passed as peaceful as she could.