Runt or sick?

[AuntieAlex]

Hi all!

I recently purchased a Welsummer chick from a lady in my local Facebook group, she said it was about a week-week and a half old. This baby was significantly smaller than the other little chick she had to choose from though and is even smaller than the 3-4 day old chicks I brought her home to though! I’ve heard that welsummers grow faster than some other breeds so I’m not sure if she’s just an anomaly and is naturally smaller than others or if I should be concerned about illness. She doesn’t seem quite as feathered/fluffed out on her body as the others or chicks I’ve had in the past but is otherwise very lively so I’m kind of at a loss here lol. Help!

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Any difference in breathing? Poo consistency? I have had smaller babies. Sometimes they arent as healthy. She may not have been giving her bird as good a feed as you do. Feed quality in chickens is super important. treat with corid to make sure there is no worms. They could stunt growth. Treat them all if you have her in with your other chicks.

 

[AuntieAlex]

Any difference in breathing? Poo consistency? I have had smaller babies. Sometimes they arent as healthy. She may not have been giving her bird as good a feed as you do. Feed quality in chickens is super important. treat with corid to make sure there is no worms. They could stunt growth. Treat them all if you have her in with your other chicks.

No differences in breathing or poo that I’ve noticed. In fact when I brought her home she pooped in the box I carried her in and it looked normal. I think there were a lot of chicks in the brooder with her before (maybe, it was hard to see) and she possibly just wasn’t getting enough food? Or the quality of it like you said. But her hatchmate looked fine next to her so I don’t know

I’ll definitely look into the corrid though, thanks

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Good luck!!! After losing a couple of chicks to coccidiosis. I treat all my chicks when I bring them home. Pretty babies. I'm addicted to the darn things lol

 

[AuntieAlex]

Good luck!!! After losing a couple of chicks to coccidiosis. I treat all my chicks when I bring them home. Pretty babies. I'm addicted to the darn things lol

I know hahaha me too! I’m a pretty all or nothing kind of person too, so when I finally jumped into the chicken game I went straight for the deep end I’m gonna end up with somewhere around 18 chickens by winter lol.

 

[NatalieP]

Have you checked her crop to see if it's full /actively eating?

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

I had a dozen and now I have 40 chickens and 2 turkeys lol. We want more turkeys. We have a male and female so we are going to let them breed. My kids and husband are crazy excited about that! (Ok so am). I wont breed my chickens. To big a risk for roos and I had a bad experience with a broody hen killing all her babies as they hatched. I have a few bantams that I may also breed. Will see how the bantam roosters temperments are when they hit maturity.

 

[AuntieAlex]

Have you checked her crop to see if it's full /actively eating?

I haven’t, but I’ve watched her eating and her appetite doesn’t seem diminished compared to the others.

 

[LaFleche]

...treat with corid to make sure there is no worms.

You may treat with Corid if you suspect coccidiosis, but Corid is not a de-wormer though.

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

You may treat with Corid if you suspect coccidiosis, but Corid is not a de-wormer though.

You are right. Coccidiosis is an intestinal parasite. I mispoke. Either way I still treat my chicks for it. I also treat my goats with it. (Slightly higher does though lol)