Scrawny Little Hen

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Shelley Dawn

Shelley Dawn

In the Brooder
Aug 7, 2015
14
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Hi, we are first time chicken keepers.
My 9 year old sons chicken is Midnight, a 22 week black rock who is still small, not yet laid and seems to sleep more than the others (they are a couple of weeks older though). Her comb and wattles are teeny and have always been pale. Midnight was bottom of the pecking order until we got two new hens this weekend. Until recently (last 2/3 weeks) she was made to wait until the others had fed before getting into the feed but now she greedily eats with the others Fingers crossed she is just small but I'm worried as we just lost my daughters chicken from the same flock due to vent prolapse and having also recently just lost a cat (from old age) we are having a bad time. Any thoughts/ advice welcome. Can she just be small and lay and have a normal life like the others or is it likely there is something wrong? She seems bright when not napping and has been wormed, vaccinated etc. She is extremely tame. Diet excellent, lots of free ranging too....

Thank you in advance.
 
Shelley Dawn said:
[COLOR=333333]Hi, we are first time chicken keepers.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=333333]My 9 year old sons chicken is Midnight, a 22 week black rock who is still small, not yet laid and seems to sleep more than the others (they are a couple of weeks older though). Her comb and wattles are teeny and have always been pale. Midnight was bottom of the pecking order until we got two new hens this weekend. Until recently (last 2/3 weeks) she was made to wait until the others had fed before getting into the feed but now she greedily eats with the others Fingers crossed she is just small but I'm worried as we just lost my daughters chicken from the same flock due to vent prolapse and having also recently just lost a cat (from old age) we are having a bad time. Any thoughts/ advice welcome. Can she just be small and lay and have a normal life like the others or is it likely there is something wrong? She seems bright when not napping and has been wormed, vaccinated etc. She is extremely tame. Diet excellent, lots of free ranging too....[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]Thank you in advance.[/COLOR]
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Some birds are just smaller than others' just like people. Being smaller does not mean less healthy. Quite likely she will lay when ready. However, this sleeping more should be watched. Keep an eye out for other symptoms of illness.
 
Thank you. She's been wormed but have just ordered some verm- x and have added apple cider vinegar. I tried fermenting their food but didn't really get on with it as went sour very quickly so they went off it. When she is awake she is bright and forages and always greedy- not just for treats but she goes to have snacks at the pellet feeder too. It's just that she takes herself off to have a nap under a favourite bush or on a shelf in an outbuilding from time to time. Another of her places is on the front door step so you cant open the door without pushing her off! I'm probably over- worrying.
 
Shelley Dawn said:
Thank you. She's been wormed but have just ordered some verm- x and have added apple cider vinegar. I tried fermenting their food but didn't really get on with it as went sour very quickly so they went off it. When she is awake she is bright and forages and always greedy- not just for treats but she goes to have snacks at the pellet feeder too. It's just that she takes herself off to have a nap under a favourite bush or on a shelf in an outbuilding from time to time. Another of her places is on the front door step so you cant open the door without pushing her off! I'm probably over- worrying.
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She is probably fine. Many of my hens takes naps; especially mid-day when the weather is warm. But it pays to be vigilant.

Door step-I had geese that did that. Not so easy to push them aside.
 
She sounds like a little rascal. I'm the smallest of a litter of 3, and like to say "better small, than not at all."

Is there a chance she could be a bantam? There are also times when a chick is a slow grower but, once it gets started it can even end up bigger than it's hatch mates. It would be good if you could try and worry less and enjoy her instead.
 
drumstick diva said:
She sounds like a little rascal. I'm the smallest of a litter of 3, and like to say "better small, than not at all."

Is there a chance she could be a bantam? There are also times when a chick is a slow grower but, once it gets started it can even end up bigger than it's hatch mates. It would be good if you could try and worry less and enjoy her instead.
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Thank you, yes I'm over- worrying I agree. I just never imagined chickens would be so adorable!! And then to lose my daughters was miserable. Don't want the same thing to happen to my sons but I know I'm being paranoid. My daughter is very small for her age and she more than makes up for it in personality (and noise) so I do agree that good things can come in small packages!
 
Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!

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