should i worry about the runt?

[greytmommy]

My black Silkie, Zero, is the smallest of the bunch. the group is 5 Bantams and 5 non-Bantams (Cochins, EE, Plymoth Rock). she is moving around, eating, drinking....she seems to nap a little more than the others. I am assuming she is just younger than the rest of the group. Do I need to worry about her? About the other chicks hurting him b/c she is the smallest? I am hoping I am just paranoid b/c she is hands down my favorite so far.

 

[nanawendy]

She might just be small. If she is eating, drinking , sleeping and pooping ... than her size is her nature. Just make sure she is getting her fair share, sometimes the larger chicks can get piggy

 

[chicklovers]

Watch them for a while and make sure she is not getting picked on in any way! While they are young you may not have problems but then out of the blue, she may become a victim. If she doesnt start to participate with the others soon, you may want to move her!
Make sure she is eating and drinking. In all at a young age, the should adapt well to each other.

 

[FMAFarms]

It's been my experience that the Black Silkies are usually a little smaller than the other Silkies at the start, but that they catch up by the time they are 6 weeks old. Our current Black Silkie chick, Blackie (my husband named her) was very much a runt after hatching, but she's strong and healthy and inquisitive and does just fine with her siblings.

 

[greytmommy]

Thanks for the Black Silkie tip...and all the other tips. I am sure I am just being paranoid, but she is my favorite....

 

[mother o' chicks72]

I got a runt two days ago to foster for a friend, she was about half the size of her sister who was the same age. the poor tiny baby passed away yesterday morning even though she was fine the day before

. I don't know how much smaller yours is compared to the others, hopefully not as tiny.

 

[BWKatz]

I have a runt Polish and she quickly learned to sneak under the others to get food. Treats? She's quicker than any of the others..grabs and runs

. I did watch closely at first to make sure she got her fair share and wasn't picked on.

 

[suzeqf]

I have a 3 teeny weeny 3-5 day old bantys that had to go in the big girl box for a bit until i got theirs cleaned out and my little jet was darting around under and around my 4 week olds eating the food i put on the stepping stone she even tried to jump up on the box i have their food and water on she's just not quite big enough yet but it didn't stop her from trying