i HAD a runt that the 2nd or 3rd night died because we forgot to turn the light on and the others wouldnt let her sleep with them, is there ANYTHING you can do for them? or do you just have to face the music and let them die?
I have a runt who for the first day or so was not accepted into the flock. They eventually took him in though. We of course kept the light on though so he could get under it. I guess my only advice here is to make sure you leave the light on when they are that young since the need the heat to survive.
I think I might have had a runt mine looked the same as all the other ones went we got him, but then he never got bigger as the rest started getting bigger. He also had really bad pasty butt once and when the other ones would be peppy and would be running all over the place he would just walk for a few steps and then fall asleep standing up. He was so cute. It was really sad when I was told he died. I have no idea why it happened.
I use two heat lamps, two feeders, two waterers, etc. That way if a chick is getting picked on by the others for being a runt or whatever they have a place to go too. I didn't give up on my runt and she's finally caught up. She'll probably never be as big as some of the others, but she's fine.
I had a runt that unfortunately only made it 4 days. He was quite a bit smaller than the other chicks, but seemed to be doing fine, then one night we found him dead. It's a sad thing, and I felt like a bad chickie parent, but I guess it's just nature's way.
I have a runt that has the most wonderful personality and the flock loves her. She's so laid back and sweet, they all baby her. She's almost caught up to the others in size now. They are 5 weeks old. Runts can do very well.
I hatched out rosecomb RIRs. I noticed that one looked smaller than the rest. It is now 3 weeks old and is only half the size of the others. I do think I got a banty egg in with my standard eggs. The guy sells both. I have not seen any fighting or picking on, of the little one. Other than size, they all look the same. Guess I will make him/her the flock mascott.