runt baby chick :(

[babychickens321]

In my experience the small ones either make it or don't, maybe you could put a small 40wbulb in a corner in there for her with some holes for ventilation? If she doesn't do regular chicken stuff she wont develop socially. If she's still that small she'll likely need high 80's heat until she either grows or dies from lack of growth.

just double checking, so it is fine for me to make her get in the box alone without the mum even though she cheeps loudly? she stops cheeping if you put a hand or something in there though. and would the mum panic if she's missing a baby? she normally forages and leaves her baby alone but if its not within her sight, she starts clucking and following whoever she thinks is holding the baby.

 

[babychickens321]

thanks everyone for your help!!

 

[babychickens321]

is it runty and weak because it fell quite a bit when it was younger?

 

[Newclucker91]

thank you very very much ill do that
for the bulb, will it be too bright for her if its 60w or something.
the cardboard box is like 1 foot wide (there was no bigger one unfortunately) is that fine for her? she is still really tiny so she can run in it a little.

So long as she's not trying to fly out because she feel cooped up that's fine, you could also try a solution i used. I bought several solar arrays (harbor freight tier not industrial) and bought an inverter and controller, cost me about 200 dollars back 5 years ago so about 300 now I imagine, suspend a small heating pad in the coop for her and plug it in to the solar controller. During the day the panels will power it and at night switch it to a spare car battery. ( I had several on hand.) And in the morning the panels take over and the battery charges. It's very useful for future flocks. I'm in the northeast and winter is brutal. My girls appreciate the extra heat. You can either tack it to a wall or wrap it in chicken wire to prevent burns and fires.

 

[Aunt Angus]

It was probably born with something that made it harder to thrive - might have been a long hatch, temp might have not been ideal for whatever reason. I don't think falling would cause slow growth, but I am no expert.

I had one this season who was not doing well at all. She would lie on her side panting. She couldn't walk or anything. I nursed her back by taking her inside and using a dropper to give her water and feed her egg yolk every half hour for 2-3 days. I kept her extra warm on a heating pad or carried her with me in a pouch with hand warmers inside. She is doing great now. But if you are concerned that this chick might not make it, you might consider intervening and brooding it yourself.

 

[babychickens321]

^trying to crawl under her big brother

pictures of runt compared to same aged brother

 

[babychickens321]

It was probably born with something that made it harder to thrive - might have been a long hatch, temp might have not been ideal for whatever reason. I don't think falling would cause slow growth, but I am no expert.

I had one this season who was not doing well at all. She would lie on her side panting. She couldn't walk or anything. I nursed her back by taking her inside and using a dropper to give her water and feed her egg yolk every half hour for 2-3 days. I kept her extra warm on a heating pad or carried her with me in a pouch with hand warmers inside. She is doing great now. But if you are concerned that this chick might not make it, you might consider intervening and brooding it yourself.

I think you're right, she took two days to hatch. Egg yolk... would that work to boost growth? She doesn't eat or drink anything besides whatever's in her feeder or drinker, even if I put that same food in my hand to hand feed her. Could I forcefully dip her beak in it? I could I really wish I could carry her all day but I have school

 

[Aunt Angus]

I think you're right, she took two days to hatch. Egg yolk... would that work to boost growth? She doesn't eat or drink anything besides whatever's in her feeder or drinker, even if I put that same food in my hand to hand feed her. Could I forcefully dip her beak in it? I could I really wish I could carry her all day but I have school

I fed it to mine with a syringe. Vitamins might help, too. Or even a higher protein feed.

 

[babychickens321]

I fed it to mine with a syringe. Vitamins might help, too. Or even a higher protein feed.

ahh thank you very much

 

[Aunt Angus]

ahh thank you very much

I don't know for sure what will work. I just kind of threw everything at Myrtle (my struggling Polish). Something in that laundry list seemed to help. She's still smaller than the others, but at least she's acting like a normal chick now.