why is my chick not growing?

[JayLee12]

hi all! so i just recently got chicks (my first time!) and i noticed one of them is considerably smaller than the rest. i’m assuming she’s a hard to thrive chick sadly. I notice that she eats and drinks about the same amount as the others but just isn’t getting any bigger or growing feathers. i gave her some finely chopped hard boiled egg but she wouldn’t eat it unless the others did. i’ve seen a lot of other people have this problem to the point where when it’s time for the chicks to be sent outside the one is still small and hardly grown. i want to try and solve that problem before the others get to big and start to bully her even more. is there some type of electrolyte that would help? also they are about 5 days old

 

[CrazyDuckDude816]

Yes there are electrolytes you can give them to supplement their growth. You can find it at feed stores or tsc. Also make sure to add some apple cider vinegar to their water to prevent pasty butt, and just make them healthy. She might just be a runt, so just keep an eye on her. Also, what is her breed?

 

[JayLee12]

Yes there are electrolytes you can give them to supplement their growth. You can find it at feed stores or tsc. Also make sure to add some apple cider vinegar to their water to prevent pasty butt, and just make them healthy. She might just be a runt, so just keep an eye on her. Also, what is her breed?

thanks! she is a rhode island red and we are already having a problem with a swollen vent with her so i already have apple cider vinegar in her water and am applying cream to her behind. what kind of electrolytes?

 

[MGG]

I would buy some Poultry Cell. Sorry you're having trouble with your chick. Can you post a picture of her?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree, she could be a runt. I've had runt cattle and dogs and once had a runt Freedom Ranger. It was a cockerel that was healthy, ate and drank well but he was half the size of even his sisters.
That said, I fail to understand how electrolytes would help. Electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Those things are already in chick starter at the amounts they need. To boost nutrition for chicks, I highly recommend Nutri-Drench.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

One of my Black Australorps was like that. At 8 weeks she is still only about 2/3 the size of the others. She almost gives the impression of being a Bantam cross, she is so small, but I see no evidence of bullying. She is a bit of a loner, but she seems to be doing fine. (I call her Pinky.) I read recently that ACV can interfere with their ability to absorb calcium. Have you ever put an egg in vinegar? I worry about what it might do to growing bones although a lot of people swear by it. Good luck with your little one!

 

[MGG]

I agree, she could be a runt. I've had runt cattle and dogs and once had a runt Freedom Ranger. It was a cockerel that was healthy, ate and drank well but he was half the size of even his sisters.
That said, I fail to understand how electrolytes would help. Electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Those things are already in chick starter at the amounts they need. To boost nutrition for chicks, I highly recommend Nutri-Drench.

Sometimes vitamin deficiencies can cause it. Some hens are deficient and then their chicks are too, so it might need extra vitamins than the others. Just my thoughts.

 

[JayLee12]

I would buy some Poultry Cell. Sorry you're having trouble with your chick. Can you post a picture of her?

thank you! how should i give her poultry cell and do you recommend it over nutri drench? here’s a photo

 

[JayLee12]

I agree, she could be a runt. I've had runt cattle and dogs and once had a runt Freedom Ranger. It was a cockerel that was healthy, ate and drank well but he was half the size of even his sisters.
That said, I fail to understand how electrolytes would help. Electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. Those things are already in chick starter at the amounts they need. To boost nutrition for chicks, I highly recommend Nutri-Drench.

i was just doing some research on that! how do you recommend i give it to her?

 

[MGG]

thank you! how should i give her poultry cell and do you recommend it over nutri drench? here’s a photo

I've never used it, but @Miss Lydia has. Maybe she can help you. I don't know how it would be administered, maybe in water? She doesn't look too bad, maybe you caught it in time. I'd love it if you updated this thread every week or 2, I had a chick like that too.