Hi everyone,
Has anyone had a chick with stunted growth? It turned out mother hen does not like black chicks
she killed one and injured two others before I realised. I had pulled the remaining two chicks from the rest of the hatch (she is happy with her brown and yellow chicks). While one chick recovered within a day or two of her abuse, the other basically had died. I was two seconds away from burying him before trying my luck with a heat pack. Fortunately, it brought him back and unfortunately he seems to be affected by the ordeal.
The bigger chick, Espresso, and the little one, BJ, are hatch mates, born on the same day!
BJ has always been perky, but had far less energy to do much. Lately, he is quite energetic and is a functioning member of society. However, at 4 weeks old still has no 'adult' feathers, aside from the wing tips. Espresso is quite ready to be out of the brooder permanently, but BJ is holding them back. It's quite warm here during the day, for the past week they've been spending the days outside and nights inside (with a heat lamp, house is colder than outside). Our nights are usually not cold, though. I've also been monitoring them, as I'm currently studying.
They spend outside time in a pretty small backyard, and I'd like to let them out over the farm and back in a chicken pen sometime. I'm concerned that BJ won't be able to keep up/stay warm at night etc or handle bad weather. Is he always going to be like this? Am I going to have to find him a chicken jumper? Or is he just a late bloomer? Is he permanently going to be a little chick?
I suppose my biggest concern is that Espresso will grow too big to be contained, but BJ will remain too small to be independent.
Espresso has started jumping out of the brooder and ditching BJ lately. I probably need to find something bigger, but I prefer the chickens hanging outside permanently, as they love it.
Sorry I don't have great photos, they usually don't stand still long enough. Hopefully they're pullets, so all this effort isn't a waste!! And because I'm a little attached.
They're from a friend's eggs, so I have no solid clue what breeds they are, either. I think my friend's roosters are a wyandotte and either a plymouth or a sussex, if I recall correctly.
Has anyone had a chick with stunted growth? It turned out mother hen does not like black chicks
she killed one and injured two others before I realised. I had pulled the remaining two chicks from the rest of the hatch (she is happy with her brown and yellow chicks). While one chick recovered within a day or two of her abuse, the other basically had died. I was two seconds away from burying him before trying my luck with a heat pack. Fortunately, it brought him back and unfortunately he seems to be affected by the ordeal. The bigger chick, Espresso, and the little one, BJ, are hatch mates, born on the same day!
BJ has always been perky, but had far less energy to do much. Lately, he is quite energetic and is a functioning member of society. However, at 4 weeks old still has no 'adult' feathers, aside from the wing tips. Espresso is quite ready to be out of the brooder permanently, but BJ is holding them back. It's quite warm here during the day, for the past week they've been spending the days outside and nights inside (with a heat lamp, house is colder than outside). Our nights are usually not cold, though. I've also been monitoring them, as I'm currently studying.
They spend outside time in a pretty small backyard, and I'd like to let them out over the farm and back in a chicken pen sometime. I'm concerned that BJ won't be able to keep up/stay warm at night etc or handle bad weather. Is he always going to be like this? Am I going to have to find him a chicken jumper? Or is he just a late bloomer? Is he permanently going to be a little chick?
I suppose my biggest concern is that Espresso will grow too big to be contained, but BJ will remain too small to be independent.
Espresso has started jumping out of the brooder and ditching BJ lately. I probably need to find something bigger, but I prefer the chickens hanging outside permanently, as they love it.
Sorry I don't have great photos, they usually don't stand still long enough. Hopefully they're pullets, so all this effort isn't a waste!! And because I'm a little attached.
They're from a friend's eggs, so I have no solid clue what breeds they are, either. I think my friend's roosters are a wyandotte and either a plymouth or a sussex, if I recall correctly.
