Small silikie (please help!)

T

Tgpetbreeders

New member
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
18
Reaction score
0
Hi everyone I have successfully hatched 6 silikie eggs earlier this week 5 of them are doing great realy barreling along and have nearly doubled in size, but one hasn't grown much. He is still quite active ( not as much as his siblings) but still active he is scratching, preening, drinking and pecking but just not growing I don't know what to do if he is ok or not please help. :?
 
Just to update this the others have started to pick on him when I got in he was bleeding from his neck. Luckily it wasn't a deep cut. I have put him on his own with some feathers and a cuddly toy for company, he has got fresh water, chick crumb and boiled egg in his cage. Please any info would be greatly appreciated as I realy like this chick he is such a fighter but I don't want to see him suffer any more.
 
See how he goes for the next 24hours make sure he is on heat though. It may be as he is small he hasn't been able to eat/drink as well as his older siblings. Sadly though generally it isn't a good idea to get too attached and if it were me I would cull any chicks that do not thrive or look sickly.
 
I just went in and he is cuddled up between his teddy and feathers asleep as a rule I don't get attached but this little chick keeps throwing me off first he looked like his leg was dodgy but then he is walking ok. Then he is staying small but eating and drinking. Then after i fist saw he had been attacked and was bleeding he Was strutting about still. He so confusing the last sussex chick I had that was small didn't last very long at all and the decision was easy this thing just seems like my old bull dog worse he gets the more he fights!
 
If he is eating and the poos are normal, he should be growing.

It could have been restricted by the others picking on him near the feeder, stopping him from getting enough.

Another thought - can you be sure that it's the same breed and not a mix up in eggs or something? Different breeds will grow at different rates - a bantam for example would be smaller.

It sounds as if you're doing all you can at this stage - you could add some mashed / hard boiled egg on a plate. Feed little bits at a time as too much will dry out. Feed more yolk than white.
 
He was eating and drinking but i have not seen him or had chance to spend any time watching himas i have been at work all night but from the look of his cage (poo trails) he has been to the feeders and eaten. also his poo was a little runny and stuck to his down but i pulled it off and he seemed a bit happier as for the egg mix up that could be a possabilty as i purchased the eggs not from my own layers as space is constantly against me. i know for future to take a small chick out sooner his neck has stoped bleeding and he is on heat so he is looking a little better has any one else had this?
 
We always give our hatchlings natural pro-biotic yoghurt at day 2. Just a few spots. It is supposed to help the digestive system start up properly and ours have always thrived on it. As Tim says, he may have been restricted at the feeder, but also his system may not be digesting properly. Mother hens eat the poos of their chicks because they contain so much nutrient, as their tiny system doesn't digest food very efficiently in the early stages.
 
He is picking up again eating and drinking he is about a week old now could he still have the yogurt. also there is another chick that wasnt quite as big as the others and they are getting along fine( im thinking he might be a banty) thanks for all the help guys i just hope he keeps this up and begins to grow.
 
Poor thing -very sorry to hear that. And he seemed to be picking up as well.

They can have yoghurt any time as its a treat but a bit messy, so we give it dipped in little squares of bread or it goes everywhere!
 
So sorry for your little chick.Somtimes the chickens even chicks can sence ilness of one of them and then will attack and kill porly bird.It is they instinct to eliminate posobility infecting rest of the flock.Chickens are very good in hiding ilness for that reason propobly.For us everything seems good and next day the chick is dead.So sad.
 
He has been put out with the other chicks. So he isn't on his own I'm glad he isn't suffering any more but is a shame.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top