Tiny Australorp Chick

[Pullet Mom]

Maybe someone can answer some questions for me. In my last batch of baby chicks, I have (5) australorps. Out of the five hens, three of them are thriving and growing like weeds. The other two still look almost as tiny as the day I got them (back at the end of July). The one tiny chick passed away within the first week but its been almost 8 weeks and the other tiny chick is doing well. I have been worried about her as this has never happened to me with any other hens. Someone suggested that she is a banty but I didn't know if Australorp's came in banty size. Someone else suggested the "faiilure to thrive " and that really concerned me. All my girls only free range at night when I am there to watch them due to the amount of hawk's in my area; Munchkin (the tiny one) seems to be eating just fine, her droppings are normal, acts like the other girls but just not growing. Does anyone else have this issue with this breed or a different breed? Any suggestions? How will I know that she is a banty (as I have never raised any of those) and if so, when will she start grow? I have attached a picture so that everyone can see the size difference. I am looking for any and all suggestions as I don't want to lose her also. Thank you.

 

[JiminyChristmas]

Where did you purchase the chicks?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

It won't let me zoom in, and I can't quite tell. Is that one feathering like normal? It almost looks like it still has quite a bit of down. A bantam chick would still feather normally. A bantam would grow just as quickly as a large fowl chick, they just start smaller and don't get as large. That chick is tiny for 8 weeks, even if it were a bantam. I'm curious where the chicks came from as well. Do you have any better photos?
@Wyorp Rock @speckledhen

 

[Pullet Mom]

Where did you purchase the chicks?

I saw a post of craigslist, erie pa and responded to it and a woman responded with saying her australorp's were 10 months old and I wanted chicks. So I said thanks and just let me know if you know of anyone with day old chicks. well about two weeks later she contacted me and said that she was going on-line to order more chicks and ducks and wanted to know if I wanted to have my australorp's included with her order and I could just get them from her but I had to take the small/minimum order which was 5. So I thought that was going to be okay. when I picked the chicks up all were active and the same size and thought all was good. My husband says it almost looks like I have three different size chickens at first. as one hen grew really quick and fast and then two more were growing but just not as large and then the two little one's who don't seem to be growing at all.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post a better photo, it's hard to see her.

Some chicks can be very slow growing. Get a baseline weight on her and start weighing her at least once a week to see if she is gaining.
You don't mention what you are feeding - I'm sure it's fine since the others are growing well, but I would keep her on a chick starter or flock raiser type feed that has 18-20%protein. Poultry vitamins once a week too.

I don't know where the thread is, it's been a long time, but someone else had a pullet that was tiny - she looked like a 3-4wk old for months. The little think ate/drank well, the OP just made sure she was eating/drinking. Earlier this year she updated the thread and that tiny pullet turned into a beautiful girl that had caught up with the others in size, was laying eggs and thriving.

It's hard to know if the same thing is happening with your little one or not - could be failure to thrive, some type of genetic defect - only time will tell. The only you can do is watch her to see that she is eating/drinking and active and hope for the best.

 

[Pullet Mom]

It won't let me zoom in, and I can't quite tell. Is that one feathering like normal? It almost looks like it still has quite a bit of down. A bantam chick would still feather normally. A bantam would grow just as quickly as a large fowl chick, they just start smaller and don't get as large. That chick is tiny for 8 weeks, even if it were a bantam. I'm curious where the chicks came from as well. Do you have any better photos?
@Wyorp Rock @speckledhen

I will see about getting a better picture tonight...and yes there is still down on her. The remaining 3 younger hens want to roost at night with my original/older girls but I still have the heater going and I won't let the baby alone. Munchkin is contained with the others during the day and throughout the night. But allowed to free range with all when I am there with them.

 

[Pullet Mom]

Can you post a better photo, it's hard to see her.

Some chicks can be very slow growing. Get a baseline weight on her and start weighing her at least once a week to see if she is gaining.
You don't mention what you are feeding - I'm sure it's fine since the others are growing well, but I would keep her on a chick starter or flock raiser type feed that has 18-20%protein. Poultry vitamins once a week too.

I don't know where the thread is, it's been a long time, but someone else had a pullet that was tiny - she looked like a 3-4wk old for months. The little think ate/drank well, the OP just made sure she was eating/drinking. Earlier this year she updated the thread and that tiny pullet turned into a beautiful girl that had caught up with the others in size, was laying eggs and thriving.

It's hard to know if the same thing is happening with your little one or not - could be failure to thrive, some type of genetic defect - only time will tell. The only you can do is watch her to see that she is eating/drinking and active and hope for the best.

I will get a better picture tonight. she is on chick starter (as are the others). I will get some vitamins and I will also weigh her....

 

[Pullet Mom]

I want to thank you all for your wonderful answers and suggestions.

 

[Pullet Mom]

Hi...I posted the other day about the Australorp and the different sizes in my babies even though I got them on the same day....I weighed munchkin and she is 3 ounces...I got a close up also if her back....and I got them the end of July....any thoughts on why so little? She is active and eating...her droppings look normal...and she is on the chick starter....sorry I didn’t go back and post on my original thread but I am new to this and didn’t know how to......any thoughts are gladly welcomed....

 

[FeatherstoneFrm]

I have an Australorps cockerel that was much smaller and very slow to feather out. He is 26 weeks old now and is almost as big as the other Australorp cockerel of the same age.
If she is eating, drinking acting normal, I'm sure she is fine.