Failure to thrive in a 5 week old silkie

Katz103

Chirping
Aug 15, 2016
19
5
59
Hi -
I hatched 3 silkies almost 6 weeks ago. Two are doing great while the third, one that I had to help during hatch, has always been behind its siblings. Right now they're twice its size and are growing their adult "fluff" nicely, while this little one seems to struggle with feather growth. They were all in the same pen as other breeds that hatched at the same time (Orpingtons, Faverolles and Ameraucanas), but last week when I had a new batch of baby silkies hatch, I decided to put it in the brooder with them to give it a more calm and peaceful environment (the siblings and other chicks are getting quite rowdy as they mature into their "teens" lol). Little dude is doing well, but today seems a bit more lethargic, sleeping a lot. Its crop is full so it's eating. It never really had the energy to play and was never interested in rough housing with others like its siblings do, but was scratching around in the wood shavings like a normal chick up until today.

Its stance in this picture is its normal stance, it's always been like this - doesn't really stretch its neck out (unless there are mealworms around, then it gets really excited!). Poop is normal, no issues that I can see. Not supposed to be a bantam, they're all from the same two hens and roo.

I'd like to hear others that have dealt with this and what happened? I've spent the last hour reading through the forums and most didn't update on what happened to their chick. Advice?
Small trio.jpg

Small white.jpg
 
I have always noticed a different "shape" in the body of FTT chicks. I have yet to have one live but may I recommend some scrambled eggs and nutri drench for this one ? It has lasted longer then most of them do.
 
I just gave it scrambled egg (had it cooking while I was typing my post for this thread lol). It's eating like it was famished, very excitedly lol even though I know it isn't starving (baby chicks aren't competing with it for food at all). I'll stop by our local TS for Nutridrench, I saw that suggested as well. Thanks!
 
Some FTT birds make it some don't, we have one that I had to help in hatch and then ended up having to tape her feet and she is three years old and a super friendly bird and actually the current boss of the henhouse :) so I say just keep doing what your doing and see what happens. Oh, and our FTT birds that made it are smaller than th others even as adults.
 

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