Can feathers on an 8 day old chicken be too heavy for them?

Question

We have an 8 day old baby chick.We hatched her from an incubator.She was the only one who made it.Shes peeping good,eating good,drinking good.Acting happy.Shes got a lamp,starter feed.everything she needs.A mirror....Shes grown feathers on her wings.And we just recently started noticing her leaning toward the right side where it seems she has the most feathers.It seems like they are growing fast.Can these feathers on such a young lil chick be very heavy for her and cause her to lean toward one side?We are freaking out here.Shes a part of our family.Is it normal for her feathers to be heavy for her?When her wings go down,she goes down but then gets right back up.Does she need antibiotics?Help please.Thanks

Answer 1

It's pretty obvious you, the asker, and that other dumb broad have no idea which way is up, and neither have any business trying to raise a farm animal without some study.

  If you're keeping this poor critter in a cage, indoors, then chances are it's starving, no matter how well it seems to eat, chickens and all birds need gravel or small stones in their gizzards to grind the food so it can be digested, othrwise, they actually starve.  Lacking teeth, it's the only way they can prepare thier food for digestion to take place.

  Instead of finding fault with those trying to help, call a vet for confirmation of the facts.

The way you describe the actions of this bird, it could very well be starving and very weak.

  Ok, ooopsgur:

looks like this whole group is a bunch of idiots, and nasty people and I don't recall accusing anyone of anything except being a little stupid when it comes to the raising of farm animals, which in case you haven't noticed, is a lot different than a cat or dog.  They have special needs and from your friends description of the circumstances, are not being met.

  I could care less about how clean the kitchen is or isn't, that's not my interest here.  My interest is the survival of one little helpless chick. The mere fact it's in the kitchen just tends to prove my point, of the lack of gravel or sand necessary for the digestion of food in any winged animal.

  Now, if this person and you all are so damned smart, how come only one chick survived? and what is your answer to this question, and if you all are so smart, and wish to demean the people trying to offer suggestions and argue facts, of which you know nothing, why post this question in the first place, since you all know the answers, or so you think.

  And you have  the audacity to get smart obout my ability to reproduce, when your whole group seems to originate by the actions and results of brother sister incest, talk about stupid.

Answer 2

We haven't had or raised  chickens for many years now, but as I remember some young chicks acting this way, died soon after.  I believe the reason for leaning was their loss of balance, and if  he or she starts to run in circles, then the end is near.

  I'm not trying to give bad news, but to relay things that have happened in the past, and we did raise hundreds of chickens.

  I have never heard of feathers being too  heavy.

To the asker, One "Kahneroxmysox" and "diecast"

  This is nuts, and I guess you really didn't want honest answers after all, so why not just ask the question and provide a list of multiple choice answers you would think acceptable?

  As said before, we raised hundreds of chicks during the great depression, and purchased them just a few days old, in cartons of 100, and our rate of chicks dying in the first few wweeks was about 25%, and many acted much the same as what you describe hereo, then don't ask a question you're not prepared to accept the answer.

  To the idiot that sent me the e-mail, drop yourself off a bridge, and this e-mail wa strictly uncalled for and shows your lack of knowledge on many fronts.

Answer 3

No she just needs to get a sense of balance. EXAMAPLE when i was little i had a lot of hair that didn't get me off balance that not enough weight to have chicken lean

) good luck ;)

Answer 4

OK Bozo....you want to accuse people??? I know this young girl that has raised this chick from an incubator.She loves her and she has the best feed and spotlessly clean water and a heat lamp. This girl has 8 pets and they are all VERY WELL taken care of. So you better be real careful...people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. And no, she is in her kitchen, not in a wire cage.

So eat THAT with your bowl of nasties!

Answer 5

well after reading the other post im kinda worried about answering this one but i will give it a go.All sorts of things can go wrong with a chick during the first few months of life.A vet bill will be very expensive for this little guy,our last trip was $100 just to do a stool sample.You can pick up some antibiotic from a feed store for around $10 its worth a shot.You said shes the only one that made it,did the others die after hatching or in the shell?I have never heard of a chicks feathers being too heavy for them,this is probably an infection of some sort.Give the meds a try!

Answer 6

OK Opal...this girl came for advice, NOT fear mongoring. Gee, are there any ppl on here with hearts???

Opal, do you remember "if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all"? This was the time for you ,Opal[strange name for a man, or can't you figure out the icons yet?] to keep your mouth SHUT!

People ask questions because they are worried. Just maybe YOU made a mistake "years ago when you raised chickens".

Are you a vet?

Have you looked at this chick personally?

So you never heard of a 8 day old chick's wing feathers being too heavy for her tiny body?

Well Opal, you sure don't have to worry about carrying around that tiny brain of yours. It's practically non existent.