It's been almost 2 weeks since I bought 30 chicks at the feed store. All are growing like weeds except one. I was concerned that perhaps she was eating the shavings instead of her food; therefore, not getting the proper nutrition. I put her in her own box for 2 days and fed her a little myself. Putting her back in with the others this morning, she ran right to the feed & began eating. She is about 1/2 the size of the other chicks and seems to sleep a lot, but when you pick her up, she sure does let you know it. They're getting started feed, terramycin in water and they're indoors. They all started out the same size, but she's not growing like the others. No problems otherwise, KNOCK ON WOOD! I would appreciate any advice.

We have the opposite...an oversized chick in with our bantams. Wonder if they accidentally gave me a standard....they DID start at the same size.....this one just TOOK OFF! Has been growing like a weed.

I would just keep an eye on her. We've had runts before.....not thriving like the others. Many times, they don't make it maturity.

Why give chicks medication, when you should encourage them to build their own immunities? Unless you have gross conditions and deseased flock, I think you will be better off by taking tetramicun out. I raise my chicks on the same bedding as my adults and I never feed them medicated starter (gamebird feed is what I use). My death rate is about 1 out 15 and it looks like they die from natural causes. Getting them exposed to "poop" early on and letting them develop resistance makes better stronger birds in the long run. Just my 2 cents worth.

aram, I have heard of putting garlic (a clove of fresh or a tablespoon of powder to a gallon of water) as a natural antibiotic. It sounds like a good idea to me as garlic does not seem to have the undesired side effects of drugs. Have you heard of this?

Aram, I agree with you that they should build their own immunities and therefor are raising my peeps organically ( Thank God there's an organic supplier nearby!) I do have a question for you though, my first flock of birds are almost 6 weeks old and I'm getting another in about a month, would it be prudent to raise the new ones on the others bedding? or since the others arn't adults yet start new...?