Runt keet?!

[sunnie7]

Is it normal to have one half the size of all the others? It’s eating fine and seems healthy it’s just not growing! They are about 3.5 weeks old now.

 

[R2elk]

Is it normal to have one half the size of all the others? It’s eating fine and seems healthy it’s just not growing! They are about 3.5 weeks old now.

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It can happen. If the parents were too closely related, all kinds of recessive genes both good and bad can be exposed.

 

[My2butterflies]

I would just watch it close to be sure it’s not sick. I know pictures can be deceiving, but it looks kinda tired and weak.

 

[Sydney65]

I used to badger @R2elk elk w/the same concern bc my Lavender was much smaller than everyone else. When they were keets they seemed to protect him,but as they got older they started to exclude him. When they moved to the coop we had to put shelves up for him to eat & sleep on in peace. He became quite the scrapper (insert "jerk") demanding his place on the totem pole & now has a mate.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Is it normal to have one half the size of all the others? It’s eating fine and seems healthy it’s just not growing! They are about 3.5 weeks old now.

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I have a chick like that, and I had one guinea in my last hatch. I don’t know why that happens but I do worry about them.

 

[sunnie7]

I have a chick like that, and I had one guinea in my last hatch. I don’t know why that happens but I do worry about them.

As adults are they just really small?

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

As adults are they just really small?

Really not sure! We sold that group of keets when they were only a week old. It’s possible that keet came from a small egg or had difficulty hatching. My chicks are now 2 months old and I honestly keep expecting the runty chick to have passed so I keep looking for it whenever I’m near! She’s still hanging in there but is half the size of her siblings and looks fragile to me.

 

[Sydney65]

Do you see my little lavender in there? We call him Nugget. He's a yr old now and chases the others around the yard.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Do you see my little lavender in there? We call him Nugget. He's a yr old now and chases the others around the yard.
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That’s cause you are such a good Guinea Whisperer, Sydney! You convinced Nugget that he could be anything that he wanted to be, and Nugget listened!!!

 

[sunnie7]

Do you see my little lavender in there? We call him Nugget. He's a yr old now and chases the others around the yard.
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How is he in size now compared to the others?! Thanks so much for sharing.