Runt chick

[Chicklette]

Awww so cute! Our runt I named Beep (after the noise she made when little) and the name stuck. She is the most people friendly, and at 9 weeks, is still much smaller than the other her age. But she is still growing and feathered out normally, just a little slower and is a little spitfire too! She ran right over the other day and jumped on my knee, ignoring the food, when the others cautiously approached to take some greens I'd brought. I love her! PS I never needed to take her out, she managed in the brooder just fine, but in early days took a few more naps under the lamp than the others.

 

[anthonyjames]

I wonder if it is something with Australops? I also received 10 chickens about 2 weeks ago. All of the other breeds as well as one of the 2 Australops are 3 to 4 times larger then our little one.

We do seem to have to take special care of her because she seems to be the only one with a pasty butt. So we clean her every other night and put mineral oil around her vent on her feathers.

When she is sleeping or resting she is a little bit of bully to all the other birds and seems to be the loudest when chatting.

My brooder is 3 x 8 x 2

 

[Myron60]

Hi all,
I have a runt also, Rooster is a Buff Orpington and Hen is an Austalorpe. There were 10 eggs total, but only 7 hatched, all with 3 days, That was on June 3rd. My runt is an AustraOrp, named Rudy, the chick is fearless and loves to explore. Right now Rudy is about 1/3 the size of the others and is somewhere at the top of the order. Rudy seems to have all the same feathers as the others. They have all been free range since the last week of June.
My question is are runts normal or rare. Should I watch Rudy for specific problems.
Thanks for all answers.

 

[azygous]

My "runt" is Miss Mini. This was taken a week ago. I have her on moistened chick crumbles fortified with poultry Nutri-drench, a more potent supplement than you'll find in Poly-vi-sol since it's formulated for chickens. My Mini wasn't able to digest dry chick crumbles so I gave her tofu which saved her life. She's growing, but will be a week behind the others until they reach maturity. Even then, I'm not sure how big she'll be. But she's active, holds her own competing with the others for meal worms, and appears she fully intends to survive.

By the way, pulling your runt away from the others will only insure she won't eat. Don't do it unless you intend to cull her.
M

 

[mithious]

I have a few that are a bit smaller, but not quite that small...except one that is the smallest. She tends to be more of a loner but will go with the others for support.

I have a hard time telling if she is eating though. I watch her, but they all look alike, especially the ones that are a bit smaller and so I think she is eating, I have seen her drinking but have yet to be able to catch her when she is alone to see if she is eating.

I did notice that the crumbles have some "mash" mixed in and sifted it out and fill one half the feeder with straight crumbles and one half with the "mash". Just so the ones that are a bit smaller can be sure to eat...I noticed they would wait till the others had eaten then go eat and as I watched, saw that they were after the smaller bits, or "mash". That's what gave me the idea to sift it and just two days and all but the one seem to be catching up to the others.

I do worry about her though. I look for her to see if I can catch her eating. I got all BR's pullets so they all look pretty much the same to me...

I was hoping to get them out to the coop this week-end and work on socializing with them, but it doesn't look like the guys are going to be coming up to finish the coop. I think they forgot it was a holiday!

Thanks for all your ideas on here...I am going to try some yogurt with her tomorrow with some "mash" on top to make sure she it eating!!!

 

[floodthelast]

I have a runt that had splay leg our first day and needed hobbled for the next two. After that she has been fine but is several days behind in feather development compared to her sisters. She seems to be eating but is not catching up in size or feathers. She is not as pushy as the others at the feed trough, but does get in there and eat plenty. I've heard scrambled eggs might help as a snack? would Gatorade in her water help? I don't have any yogurt. I can add apple cider vinegar to the water too. Is there another treat I can give her?

 

[azygous]

Crumbled tofu is an excellent pre-digested food that packs a nutrient wallop.

Chicks double in size each week for the first several weeks so that's why she seems to lag behind in size. She should eventually catch up.

 

[floodthelast]

Crumbled tofu is an excellent pre-digested food that packs a nutrient wallop.

Chicks double in size each week for the first several weeks so that's why she seems to lag behind in size. She should eventually catch up.

She has two sisters the same age and they are way bigger and more developed. I can take a pic if you like.