Runt Easter Egger bald spots

[AdamSelene]

Hi all,

First time chicken owner and first time poster. I have a dozen ~4 week old Easter Eggers. Allegedly they are all sexed hens.

One of the chicks has been growing slower than the others and is now significantly smaller then the rest of the flock. I recently noticed she also has some bald spots on either side of her breast. While I haven't witnessed any bullying, the bald spots and smaller size sound like they could be characteristic of bullying. It also seems like her breast is maybe protruding out a bit further, perhaps swelling?

If it is in fact bullying by the other hens, what (if anything) can I do here? Put her in a separate brooder and re-integrate with the flock later? Should anything be done about the bald spots?

As an aside, the rest of the flock seems to have their feathers coming in nicely and I expect I could probably transfer them to the coop in the next couple weeks. Does that timing seem appropriate for their feathering? Where I am the lows are unlikely to dip much below 40 degrees at this time of year.

Thanks in advance!

 

[AdamSelene]

Doing a bit more reading and understanding more about chicken anatomy, it seems the chest protrusion might be crop impaction causing her to get less nutrients than the other birds. I have actually noticed the runt in particular seems to take more interest pecking at the bedding than the feed - so perhaps this caused the impacted crop. There aren't any other foreign objects she could have consumed in the brooder.

The bald spots might then be explained by her picking at her chest.

If this is in fact an impacted crop, it sounds like some conservative measures to start with are:

1. Quarantine and provide only water (no food) for 24 hours.
2. Gently massage crop from top down to help break up impacted material in the crop.
3. Offer vegetable oil mixed with warm water to help break up the blockage.

Does the impacted crop diagnosis seem correct? If so, is there anything in addition to the above measures that should be taken? I suppose I might need to consider a different bedding (currently using aspen fibers) for the quarantine as she might just eat more bedding.

 

[FrostRanger]

I had an easter egger chick named Thyme who was slowfeathering and a bit runty. Not only was she just fine, but she ended up becoming head hen

As for your chick, does she have access to chick grit? If not I'd provide some. Depending on your weather it shouldn't impact when you move them outside

 

[AdamSelene]

I had an easter egger chick named Thyme who was slowfeathering and a bit runty. Not only was she just fine, but she ended up becoming head hen

As for your chick, does she have access to chick grit? If not I'd provide some. Depending on your weather it shouldn't impact when you move them outside

No grit at present. I was under the impression grit was only required after they are off the crumble starter feed (mine are still just eating this).

Am I incorrect in my understanding and chicks should have access to grit even if they are just on the starter feed crumble?

 

[FrostRanger]

No grit at present. I was under the impression grit was only required after they are off the crumble starter feed (mine are still just eating this).

Am I incorrect in my understanding and chicks should have access to grit even if they are just on the starter feed crumble?

You are technically correct, but if you even suspect they ate anything else such as bedding, it's a good idea to provide it anyways just in case

 

[rosemarythyme]

Please take photos without red light, it's difficult to see any damage that you're referring to.

Yes they're old enough to be transitioning outside with your temperatures.

I always give chicks grit right away. There's no downside as long as you don't allow them to gorge on it, and chicks will eat bedding, bugs, and anything else they come across even if the only feed you're offering is chick starter.