Unhealthy baby Rhode Island Reds

[cgfrisk]

Is it normal for Rhode Island Reds to be very docile as babies? Mine barely move when you hold them. And appear to fall asleep everywhere. Is this normal?

 

[azygous]

Yes, it is. Like all brand new babies, chicks in their first week sleep a lot. It's because they're growing so fast, doubling in size each week. And they will collapse and nod off wherever they happen to fall when the urge to sleep overtakes them.

Mine will fall asleep when I'm holding them, and their heads go limp, hanging down like dead chickens. Unless you know it's totally normal, it looks pretty freaky at first!