Something's up with this little chick

[Linita]

So, my quail are now 10 days old, and there's this little chick which hasn't grown up like the rest of them. You can see photos for comparison.

Also, its wing's feathers seem to have some kind of problem. They're curved and don't seem to be unfolding like the rest of the birds. Also I see some like tissue binding them over. Which I guess it's normal but here is very noticeable.

It's not a help out. And it came from a small egg, which I thought was the cause of it being much smaller. But the feathers definitely have a problem and I thought it'd have caught up more with the rest by now.

Is it normal for some birds to just stay smaller if they came from a smaller egg?

What's wrong with its feathers? Does anyone know? Do you know how to help it with the feathers?

Any tips for helping it catch up a bit with the rest? Should I be concerned? Otherwise the size and the feather problem, it's healthy and does eat and drink normally.

 

[CloneFly]

The wings look like a possible deformity(?) As for the growth, could be the little one is a dwarf or a slow grower. My quail just turned 1wk and one of the babies is significantly smaller/less feathered than her younger sister.

 

[007Sean]

A small egg is usually an indicator of poor nutrition of the hen or the hen just started to lay, and the reproductive system hasn't fully matured. The chick may or may not grow out of it, most likely it will always be small. It's feather condition is a results of the poor nutrition of the parental birds.

Feed manufactures have been skimping on the amount of lysine and methionine + cystine they add to the feed in recent years, due to costs. All of which are necessary for proper feather development as well as muscle and bone growth and to some degree, neurological development as well.

Sometimes that can be corrected by feeding a balanced and complete feed ration of the proper protein.
As long as it's eating, drinking and otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry over it too much!

 

[threeepeat]

My chicks are exactly the same age as yours. Good luck with that little guy!

 

[Ravenlover]

So, my quail are now 10 days old, and there's this little chick which hasn't grown up like the rest of them. You can see photos for comparison.

Also, its wing's feathers seem to have some kind of problem. They're curved and don't seem to be unfolding like the rest of the birds. Also I see some like tissue binding them over. Which I guess it's normal but here is very noticeable.

It's not a help out. And it came from a small egg, which I thought was the cause of it being much smaller. But the feathers definitely have a problem and I thought it'd have caught up more with the rest by now.

Is it normal for some birds to just stay smaller if they came from a smaller egg?

What's wrong with its feathers? Does anyone know? Do you know how to help it with the feathers?

Any tips for helping it catch up a bit with the rest? Should I be concerned? Otherwise the size and the feather problem, it's healthy and does eat and drink normally.

Updates regularly on little sam wise gamgee there poor Hobbit

 

[SmiYa0126]

Is the chick eating well? It looks like it may be a little lazy in preening the shaft from where the feathers are growing. Is she being bullied at all?

 

[Linita]

Is the chick eating well? It looks like it may be a little lazy in preening the shaft from where the feathers are growing. Is she being bullied at all?

Yes, I see it eating like the rest of them. And I haven't seen it getting bullied. I am just worried about its feathers that may be I should help it somehow.

 

[Linita]

A small egg is usually an indicator of poor nutrition of the hen or the hen just started to lay, and the reproductive system hasn't fully matured. The chick may or may not grow out of it, most likely it will always be small. It's feather condition is a results of the poor nutrition of the parental birds.

Feed manufactures have been skimping on the amount of lysine and methionine + cystine they add to the feed in recent years, due to costs. All of which are necessary for proper feather development as well as muscle and bone growth and to some degree, neurological development as well.

Sometimes that can be corrected by feeding a balanced and complete feed ration of the proper protein.
As long as it's eating, drinking and otherwise healthy, I wouldn't worry over it too much!

Ou, well I can't tell you about that because they were shipped eggs. I don't own any poultry besides these chicks. And I'm giving it the right food now, same as the rest of them. It's definitely something genetic.

I am just worried about if it needs help or some sort of intervention with its feathers somehow and I'm not doing anything about it.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Yes, I see it eating like the rest of them. And I haven't seen it getting bullied. I am just worried about its feathers that may be I should help it somehow.

Is it's crop full after it eats? Have you seen it preen itself? I would probably have someone hold him and maybe use a toothpick to loosen the keratin shaft and then let the chick take off the rest. I'm just going with my gut here, I've never done this.

 

[Linita]

Is it's crop full after it eats? Have you seen it preen itself? I would probably have someone hold him and maybe use a toothpick to loosen the keratin shaft and then let the chick take off the rest. I'm just going with my gut here, I've never done this.

@SmiYa0126
@Ravenlover
I haven't payed attention to the crop but I think so. Yes, it preens itself. I decided to use an Xacto knife to open a bit the tubes where the feathers were and it has improved but I haven't gone up the zone where there's like tissue. Something seems to be off too at the end of its feathers. Or maybe it's normal, other birds seem to have something similar. I attach photo of a normal bird for comparison. Also a size comparison.