What is wrong with my cream leg bar chick?

[Tretinker]

I'm afraid I don't have any advice other than I read they need protein for feather production so the egg could be a good tip.

She is utterly adorable and I hope she makes it!

 

[Keylime]

Here she is at 25 weeks! She is an absolute sweetheart, and loves to be held. Actually really loves it not just tolerate it. She has gotten stronger and is still the runt, but she can hold her own in a flock of 18 hens just fine. Better feathers grew in. She does seem to have some kind of muscle weakness. Notice the drooping in her wings. When you pick her up, it isn’t like a normal hen—her wings and body seem to slide, whichever way you’re holding her and she doesn’t really “work“ to hold herself. She can run fast if she needs to, but mostly she is pretty inactive. Now I wonder if she will not be strong enough to pass an egg. Does anyone else have a hen like this?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

YES! Unfortunately it's "had," but very much same situation. She was "the runt," it was not failure to thrive because she did live almost 3 years. She was always smaller than the rest, layed tiny little eggs and was always sort of "off." I felt like it was neurological possibly. Anyhow she did die but she lived her best life and it just happens.... Enjoy your little lady, I'm sure she's enjoying her little life!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Here she is at 25 weeks! She is an absolute sweetheart, and loves to be held. Actually really loves it not just tolerate it. She has gotten stronger and is still the runt, but she can hold her own in a flock of 18 hens just fine. Better feathers grew in. She does seem to have some kind of muscle weakness. Notice the drooping in her wings. When you pick her up, it isn’t like a normal hen—her wings and body seem to slide, whichever way you’re holding her and she doesn’t really “work“ to hold herself. She can run fast if she needs to, but mostly she is pretty inactive. Now I wonder if she will not be strong enough to pass an egg. Does anyone else have a hen like this?

What a sweetheart! I have a Polish named Myrtle who loves being held. Just adores it. To the point I have to just go and pick her up or I'll never get anything done - lol!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Here she is at 25 weeks! She is an absolute sweetheart, and loves to be held. Actually really loves it not just tolerate it. She has gotten stronger and is still the runt, but she can hold her own in a flock of 18 hens just fine. Better feathers grew in. She does seem to have some kind of muscle weakness. Notice the drooping in her wings. When you pick her up, it isn’t like a normal hen—her wings and body seem to slide, whichever way you’re holding her and she doesn’t really “work“ to hold herself. She can run fast if she needs to, but mostly she is pretty inactive. Now I wonder if she will not be strong enough to pass an egg. Does anyone else have a hen like this?

Did you give her any extra vitamins or supplement her diet with extra protein?

 

[Vata Raven]

Runt?

If you want a protein boost, call local brewers for spent grains. Spent grains are 25% protein by weight.