What is wrong with my cream leg bar chick?

[Keylime]

She is four weeks old. She is a third of the size of the other two cream like bar chicks I ordered from the hatchery. She has always been weak, and I have not really done anything special for her, but she has a will to live. And now that she has gotten this far, I’d like to see her make it. Her feathers are coming in fluffy and thin. They stick out at all the angles. She obviously has some sort of birth defect, but she eats, drinks, preens, and manages to hold her own amongst a large batch of chicks. She is very sweet and my daughter loves her.

 

[nuthatched]

It could be failure to thrive, which is an issue that causes the body to not use the nutrients available to it. They usually don't make it to adulthood, I'm sorry.

 

[Cool_Catrules456]

She is four weeks old. She is a third of the size of the other two cream like bar chicks I ordered from the hatchery. She has always been weak, and I have not really done anything special for her, but she has a will to live. And now that she has gotten this far, I’d like to see her make it. Her feathers are coming in fluffy and thin. They stick out at all the angles. She obviously has some sort of birth defect, but she eats, drinks, preens, and manages to hold her own amongst a large batch of chicks. She is very sweet and my daughter loves her.

Try giving her some apple cider vinegar, and some chick electrolytes.

 

[nuthatched]

Try giving her some apple cider vinegar, and some chick electrolytes.

Unfortunately, that will do nothing for this issue.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Failure to thrive sucks. You *might* try 2x/daily vitamins, like Nutridrench or Poultry Cell. Maybe extra protein, like eggs. Worth a shot if she's made it this far.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She has always been weak, and I have not really done anything special for her, but she has a will to live. And now that she has gotten this far, I’d like to see her make it.

Might just be different genetics.. my siblings and I are not the same size, don't have the same health issues, etc.. even from the same parents.. hatchery birds may not be from the same parents. I certainly wouldn't give up hope or throw in the towel just yet!

Which starter feed are you using?

I would consider supplementing something with amino acids.. like Poultry Nutri Drench or Rooster Booster brand Poultry Cell (mixed into a little wet mash as it doesn't mix well with water).

 

[Keylime]

Might just be different genetics.. my siblings and I are not the same size, don't have the same health issues, etc.. even from the same parents.. hatchery birds may not be from the same parents. I certainly wouldn't give up hope or throw in the towel just yet!

Which starter feed are you using?

I would consider supplementing something with amino acids.. like Poultry Nutri Drench or Rooster Booster brand Poultry Cell (mixed into a little wet mash as it doesn't mix well with water).

There is definitely something wrong with her, but I don’t know that it’s failure to thrive because she does seem to be getting stronger. I did not think she would make it through the first week.

 

[Aunt Angus]

There is definitely something wrong with her, but I don’t know that it’s failure to thrive because she does seem to be getting stronger. I did not think she would make it through the first week.

Then def try the vitamins and protein approach. I saved my Polish through very constant supplementation and spoon feeding. She's now 100% "normal" - if a Polish is ever normal...

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I agree with Aunt

 

[AnnPann]

I don’t have the experience to offer up advice, but just wanted to say I can see why you want to save her if you can! She’s super adorable! Good luck with her - I hope she lives a long happy life!