One little Emu chick way behind other in development...

[moonjelly]

My second emu that hatched a day and a half after my first seems too far behind in development when compared to the other. She/he is 6 days old now. Her egg was about 80 grams smaller than the other and she is physically much smaller, of course. She's also a dilute light sandy brown color. I wonder what she would look like if she makes it to an adult.

She learned to walk, is drinking and is eating, but I don't think she does enough of any of these things. The other will be up running around, pecking at my hands, grabbing pieces of kale, and she'll just be in the corner sleeping most of the time. I put some electrolytes in the water, but I was wondering if there's anything else I can do to give her a better start? I kept waiting for her any day to catch up with my other, but she seems way more than a day behind...

 

[Tame Emu Guy]

Maybe we should separate the small thing from the behaviour thing?

I understand that a chick like that needs to be thriving: should be absolutely as active as its clutch-mates.

So, yeh, apart from the size issue, it seems reasonable to treat it as a sick chick.

S.E.

 

[moonjelly]

Of course, I think there's something wrong with her because she is only a day and a half younger and should not be so far behind the other.

 

[moonjelly]

My ratite book says an A& D vitamin supplement and an injection of B complex. So I'm going to try that.

 

[birdeo]

she " could " have a retained yolk sac, does she have a fat belly, wheezy chirp, do you perhaps hear clicking when she breathes?
Dull dry feathers and shrivel legs also can be signs.
Hope she'll be allright but if that's the case sadly not much that can be done and they can die anywhere up to 3 weeks from it but normally don't last that long ...in my experience a week at the most.
Sure hope it's NOT that and maybe she is just a bit " slow" for now.

 

[moonjelly]

I was worried about that, but physically I'm not seeing any of those signs.

 

[moonjelly]

So an updated... out of nowhere this afternoon the chick began acting normal. Running around, pecking at everything, eating more, drinking and keeping up with his sister. Maybe it was the vitamins or maybe he just got a weak start. In any case, I'm very happy. Thanks for your help.

 

[birdeo]

That's very good news !